OSCE Centre in Astana organizes course to help authorities and NGOs combat domestic violence

BOROVOE, 19 August 2010 - An OSCE-organized training course for government and non-governmental organization employees to teach courses on domestic violence prevention began today in Borovoe, northern Kazakhstan.

The two-day seminar aims to help governmental agencies and NGOs better implement the recently adopted Domestic Violence Law.

The course brings together 20 police officers, health care workers, NGO representatives and international experts. It will address democratic and gender-sensitive policing, social and cultural aspects of domestic violence as well gender-based abuse.

"Improving the skills of the professionals who have the responsibility to address domestic violence is an important part of a state's obligation to fully investigate, prosecute and punish violence against women," said Stefan Buchmayer, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Astana.

"The knowledge and skills gained by the professionals during this course will help them to recognize signs of violence and respond in a timely and appropriate manner."

The course is led by the Deputy Director of the Interior Ministry's Police Training College and a Czech expert.

Participants will discuss international standards and commitments on combating domestic violence, ways to improve the work of the law enforcement agencies in combating domestic violence and the establishment of co-operation mechanisms among law enforcement structures and civil society.

The seminar is part of the OSCE Centre's multiyear efforts to promote gender equality and combat domestic violence.