Gender Responsive & Trauma Informed Policing in Punjab
Musawi, in collaboration with Ishtiraq and Punjab Police, designed and delivered a landmark four-day training on victim support and trauma-informed policing for 1675 female police recruits and a three day training of 39 Transgender Victim Support Officers from across Punjab. The training aimed to equip recruits and officers with the tools and mindsets needed to engage sensitively and effectively with women, transgender persons, children, and persons with disabilities, adopting a trauma-informed approach.
This initiative is the first of its kind in Pakistan, integrating legal, psychological, and experiential learning methods to build a trauma-informed and gender-responsive police force, especially in its interaction with marginalized groups.
Objectives
- Introduce the concepts of vulnerability, implicit bias, and trauma-handing in policing
- Improve understanding of laws protecting women, children, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities
- Build capacity for survivor-centered and trauma-informed engagement that prioritizes prevention of retraumatization for survivors / complainants.
- Address secondary trauma experienced by police officers and encourage a culture of engaging on this within the police work.