The Spotlight Initiative Donates Critical ICT Equipment to the Victim and Witness Support Unit of the TTPS
Date:
Presentation of ICT equipment to the VWSU (L to R) Sharon Gomez-Cooper (Assistant Acting Commissioner of Police), Mr. Sanjin Soldatic (EU Chargé d’Affaires), Aisha Price-Corbie (Manager Victim and Witness Support Unit, TTPS), and Tonni Brodber (Representative, UN Women MCO-Caribbean) / Credit: UN Women Photos/Abraham Diaz
A life free from violence is a human right for all persons regardless of sex, gender or race. However, the National Women’s Health Survey for Trinidad and Tobago reveals one in three ever-partnered women in Trinidad and Tobago will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In recognition of the important role of the Victim and Witness Support Unit (VWSU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as service providers for critical case management and psycho-social support for survivors of gender-based violence, the Spotlight Initiative team has contributed critical ICT equipment worth nearly 70 000 USD to strengthen the capacity of the Unit.
On April 5th, 2022, representatives of the Spotlight Initiative which included UN Women Representative, Tonni Brodber, Acting Ambassador of the European Union, Sanjin Soldatic, UN Women Planning and Coordination Specialist, Je’nille Maraj, and Spotlight Programme Coordinator, Nikita Mohammed, formally handed over this equipment to Assistant Commissioner of the TTPS, Sharon Gomez-Cooper, and VWSU Manager, Aisha Corbie.
Some of the ICT equipment contributed to the VWSU / Credit: UN Women Photos/Abraham Diaz
These tools will boost the capacity of the VWSU to provide remote psycho-social services to underserved and vulnerable populations, notably in rural areas, as well as to strengthen data systems to monitor and inform programmes.
Also in attendance were Officers and Managers within the VWSU and frontline responders within the TTPS. This is one of several projects with the TTPS under the Spotlight Initiative which also includes the development and operationalisation of a professional competency framework to mainstream gender-responsive policing, GBV sensitization and training for all frontline officers and the implementation of a court accompaniment programme to support survivors as they navigate through the justice system.
UN Women MCO-Caribbean Representative, Ms. Tonni Ann Brodber, said: “Gender responsive policing is not only about individual opportunities to improve, it is also about well-equipped systems and institutions. It is our pleasure through the Spotlight Initiative to provide this essential equipment”.
Sanjin Soldatić, Acting Ambassador of the EU Delegation stated: “The use of this equipment will strengthen the TTPS and build the capacity of VWSU to provide the much needed data to inform policies and programmes in support of all those affected by family violence. We therefore extend congratulations to the Unit for its ongoing work and our appreciation, in anticipation, for the improved services that this equipment will facilitate.”
(L to R) Mr. Sanjin Soldatic (EU Chargé d’Affaires), Nikita Mohammed (Spotlight Programme Coordinator), Sharon Gomez-Cooper (Assistant Acting Commissioner of Police), Aisha Price-Corbie (Manager, Victim and Witness Support Unit, TTPS), Kirk Pierre (Deputy Manager, Victim and Witness Support Unit, TTPS), Tonni Brodber (Representative, UN Women MCO-Caribbean), and Je'nille Maraj (Planning and Coordination Specialist, UN Women MCO-Caribbean) / Credit: UN Women Photos/Abraham Diaz
The Spotlight Initiative is a global multi-year initiative of the United Nations with generous support from the European Union. The aim is to end violence against all women and girls, through prevention strategies and strengthened multi-sectoral responses. The programme is implemented through six interlocking pillars of action: policies and legislation; institutional capacity building; prevention; strengthened service delivery, quality and accessible data to inform policy making and empowerment of the women’s movement and civil society.