UN Child Protection & Comprehensive Protection Course

Two Fiji Police Officers are attending a United Nations Child Protection and Comprehensive Protection of Civilian Course at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi.

The two Police Officers are Sergeant Ashwini Asneeta Devi, Research Officer at the Strategic Planning Unit at Police Headquarters and Sergeant Selai Raramasi, Instructor at the School of Investigation at the Fiji Police Academy.

The three week regional course is the first to be delivered at the Headquarters Joint Task Force Command's UN School Facility and in attendance are officers from the RFMF, Fiji Police Force, Fiji Corrections Service, Republic Of Fiji Navy and the Australian Defence Force .

Due to travel restrictions however, officers from Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati could not attend.

Opening course was the Defence Advisor to the Australian High Commission in Fiji Colonel Kane Wright who said, “These courses set the tone for Fiji’s regional engagements as we share training opportunities to military representatives from our Pacific neighbours”.

“Soon Fiji will be able to host many such courses extending from the RFMF, the Fijian Police Forces and other regional partners as they prepare for operations that see them proudly defending the defenseless in the world's conflict ridden regions”.

The Course focuses on Child Protection and Comprehensive Protection of Civilians. Col. Wright added, “The Blackrock Training Camp is a testament to the commitment Fijians have made to the prosperity and security of the Pacific region and the world".

“Civilians are increasingly becoming victims of conflict and civil unrest and armed conflict leaving the UN mandating 95% of UN peacekeepers prioritizing the protection of children and civilians”.

The Course is expected to end in the first week of May.