Eastern Region Commissioner of Police, Chikondi Chingadza, has urged police Public Relations Officers (PROs) to effectively communicate information on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) to both the media and rural communities.
Speaking at the Police College in Zomba during the opening of a four-day training for police PROs, Chingadza emphasized the importance of raising awareness about domestic and workplace GBV. She highlighted the need to inform the public about its severity, impact, and reporting channels.
The workshop, funded by the European Union (EU) under the Chilungamo Program, aims to enhance the capacity of female police PROs in GBV information dissemination.
“Public Relations Officers act as a bridge, making this training essential for their role in communicating GBV-related information,” Chingadza said, thanking the EU for its support.
Goodson Jumbe, a representative from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, stressed the need for PROs to uphold professional ethics when handling GBV cases, ensuring victim protection from stigma and discrimination.
Deputy PRO for Kanengo Police in Lilongwe, Sergeant Linly Mwale, described the training as a valuable refresher course, helping PROs balance public relations, media ethics, and communication in GBV reporting.
On behalf of the participants, Mwale thanked the Malawi Police Service for organizing the training and pledged that the trained PROs would continue disseminating GBV-related information with professionalism.
