Training on Domestic Violence

Brief Description

The Women's Department of the Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation is conducting training on domestic and gender-based violence for police officers, police prosecutors, magistrates, community nurses, social workers, education professionals, religious and community leaders, schools and communities:

- Police: Domestic Violence is included in the curriculum at the Police Training School. The Women's Department is usually asked to conduct the training at the Police Training School. Training is conducted each year for new recruits.  The themes of the training are the Domestic Violence Act, Police as Victims of Domestic Violence and Police Officers as Batterers.

- Police prosecutors: some police prosecutors have benefitted from domestic violence training offered by the Women's Department. Training usually deals with the Domestic Violence Act, Types of Abuse, Support Services, Why Women Stay.

- Magistrates: magistrates and Family Court magistrates are able to benefit from training on Domestic Violence and Women's Rights offered by the Women's Department. Attendance at these trainings, when offered, is usually mandatory as per the Chief Justice's directive.

- Community nurses are able to benefit from training on Domestic Violence when offered by the Women's Department or when requested by the Department.

- Social workers in the Women's Department undergo continuous training on domestic violence and violence against women as they are expected to serve as Trainers for these sessions.

- Some education professionals have benefitted from training on Domestic Violence when offered by the Women's Department or when requested of the Department.

- Some religious and community leaders have benefitted from training on Domestic Violence and women's rights when offered by the Women's Department or when requested of the Department. In 2009, a specialized training was conducted countrywide for community leaders including alcaldes (traditional maya leaders).

- Schools and communities: the Women's Department has held workshops with schools and communities, radio and TV programs, and disseminated pamphlets and brochures on domestic violence. A manual addressing issues of gender and masculinity was also produced and distributed as part of the ongoing effort to combat domestic violence.  In 2010, under the Global Fund Project, the Women's Department held a Sisterhood Camp from 26 July to 1 August.  This camp was a residential camp for young women between 13 and 16 years of age throughout the country.  The camp was the second of its kind and was a training of trainers camp that focused on young women's empowerment.  This year, the camp had the participation of 42 young women who were trained as peer educators in gender-based violence.  These young women returned to their communities and trained three hundred and forty-three 343 of their peers.  In 2010, the Women's Department held a series of Rural Women's Health Forum throughout the country, and part of the sessions covered gender-based violence.