Transcript
KEDAR POUDYAL: This training module consists of basically six core areas. The first one is about understanding human rights generally. Also understanding of constitutional of legal provisions. Of course, it also involves ethics. Ethics of police officers when it comes to their operation. It also covers the use of force and use of firearms. Also human rights during arrest and detention. When we talk about use of force, one of the areas covered was human rights during the election time. For example, all kinds of political rights like assembly, freedom of speech and the right to vote. These are some of the political rights police should be aware of and police have a responsibility to promote those rights. Similarly, handling assemblies and if there are any rallies during the election time.
BEN ROBINSON DRAWBRIDGE: Will this training be dispensed to all police prior to the election?
KP: The elections are coming closer and it will not be possible to conduct it in all provinces. But the training college has plans to reach out as much as possible, at least to maybe five or six provinces. Even more than that probably, because the election period starts in April according to the plan.
BRD: Over the years we have reported issues of domestic violence, sometimes inflicted by members of the police force, so was domestic violence a part of the ethics module?
KP: Yes of course, because use of force was a main focus of the training programme and certain literature of the programme was also from the Ombudsman Commission and focused on some of the examples of police brutality and how a human rights based approach to policing can help to reduce this kind of activity. I hope that it will help to change the culture within the police force, but changing culture takes time. I'm hopeful that it will help to change the culture.
