In close collaboration with the NGO known as Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia (OSJE), and with financial support from Christian Aid, APAP has been implementing a project aimed at enhancing the capacities of the law-enforcement organs in the Borena Zone of Oromiya and in the South Omo Zone of the SNNPR States. As part of the implementation of this project, APAP gave the police officers in the South Omo zone training at the town of Jinka, in the SNNPR, in two rounds—that is, August 18-22, 2008 and August 25-29, 2008. A total of 100 police officers, who were drawn from the Crime Prevention and Crime Investigation Offices of the zone participated. Of these, four were female police officers.

The training consisted of the basic concepts behind human rights in general and women’s and children’s rights in particular—as well as the role of the police in protecting them from being violated. It had also incorporated into it the universal principles of accountability and transparency.

The training is expected to make a big difference in the manner in which the police officers will go about fulfilling the police duties entrusted to them.