Oshana police regional commander Andreas Shilelo has urged officers to ensure that arrests are lawful and non-violent unless “absolutely” necessary.
“Conditions of detention should respect basic human dignity, the use of force must be proportional, justified and applied only as a last resort, and freedom of expression, assembly and dignity must be protected and not suppressed,” he says.
He said this while speaking at the official opening of a five-day human rights training for police officers at Ondangwa on Monday.
The one-week human rights training course was attended by 50 police officers drawn from all 14 regions to learn practical skills on human rights principles and ethical decision-making.
He urged police officers to put human rights at the centre of their daily duties and respect the human rights of communities they serve to maintain public trust and credibility of the force.
Shilelo said human rights and effective policing are not opposing principles but form the foundation of professional and ethical policing.
“When we uphold human rights, we build community trust, strengthen public cooperation and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done,” Shilelo said.
He said the training would equip officers with knowledge and skills on human rights principles and ethical decision-making to help them manage the complexities of their duties.
The training is being facilitated by the Office of the Ombudsman in partnership with the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Shilelo said the training should ultimately renew officers’ commitment to serving with honour, integrity and dignity and protecting the rights of all Namibians regardless of their circumstances.
The training course will focus on the constitutional framework for human rights, administrative justice, the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the use of force, accountability in policing, gender-based violence, vulnerable people, non-discrimination and community policing.
