Twenty-three police officers from Pacific Island Countries have gathered in Nadi to participate in a regional police training program sponsored by the Australian Federal Police.

FWCC coordinator Shamima Ali says the training also aims to sensitize regional police officers to develop better responses towards reports of violence against women and girls.

Ali says one challenge is how police respond to women who complain about violence which they have found is been lacking.

“This is where women go to first of all, women’s organizations like us are not everywhere there are very few offices – but police posts, police stations are everywhere – so their responses for a woman can be sometimes a matter of life and death – and they are very important stakeholders.”

Ali says if police responses were sensitized and better then it would act as a deterrent

The two week training will focus on gender, violence against women, human rights and the law.