By Ibrahim Sesay
Caritas Freetown, with support from Manos Unidas, has trained 20 personnel from 10 Family Support Unit (FSU) divisions in the Western Area Rural District on case management and psychosocial approaches aimed at strengthening support services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The training, held on 19 June 2026 at Twin Hall in Hastings, forms part of the project titled “Strengthening Behavioural Change on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention, Promoting Access to Justice and Wellbeing for Vulnerable Women and Girls in the Western Area.”
During the opening session, members of the project team welcomed participants and commended the officers for their commitment to improving services for survivors and enhancing institutional responses to SGBV cases.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Project Officer Alima Turay outlined the objectives of the training and emphasized the need to strengthen the knowledge and practical skills of Family Support Unit personnel in handling SGBV-related cases effectively and professionally.
The training was facilitated by Inspector Michael Gbeten of the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit at Calaba Town. He led discussions on key topics, including understanding sexual and gender-based violence, behavioural change, the role and responsibilities of FSU officers, professional ethics, and the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in supporting survivors.
Inspector Gbeten stressed the importance of professional evidence collection and thorough investigations, noting that officers play a critical role in facilitating survivors’ access to medical, legal, and social welfare services.
He further urged participants to uphold professional ethics and resist external influences, including family pressure and corruption, throughout the justice process to ensure fairness, accountability, and protection for survivors.
Speaking after the training, Sergeant Amie Kpange of the Family Support Unit at Newton Police Station described the sessions as both informative and timely, noting that they reinforced many of the principles already applied in day-to-day operations while strengthening officers’ understanding of survivor-centred approaches.
“Our operations border around most of what we have been taught here today, so this training served as an important reminder. It has strengthened my knowledge of survivor-centred case management and the importance of combining investigations with psychosocial support,” she said.
Sergeant Kpange also highlighted some of the challenges faced by Family Support Unit officers in handling SGBV cases, particularly difficulties associated with age assessments for victims.
“One of the challenges we often face as Family Support Unit officers is conducting age assessments for victims, as many survivors struggle to afford transportation to access the required services. We also experience delays in obtaining medical endorsements, which can affect timely case processing,” she explained.
Despite these challenges, she expressed optimism that the knowledge and skills gained from the training would contribute to improving support mechanisms for survivors, protecting their dignity, and enhancing access to justice.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts by Caritas Freetown and its partners to strengthen institutional responses to sexual and gender-based violence while promoting the wellbeing, protection, and empowerment of vulnerable women and girls across the Western Area.
