Police officers urged to promote human rights

Jul 09, 2009

POLICE officers have been urged to promote human rights in order to reduce crime.

By Esther Mukyala

POLICE officers have been urged to promote human rights in order to reduce crime.

“As law enforcement officers, you have a duty to promote human rights as mandated by the law and international instruments of human rights,” Jinja district Police commander John Cohen Arinaitwe said.

“If Police officers respect and observe human rights, the Police force, which is always ranked as the leading violator of human rights, will gain the public’s confidence,” he added.

He was speaking at the closure of a workshop for Police officers at the Jinja Municipal Council offices on Friday. The workshop was organised by the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and the Police.

Arinaitwe warned Police officers against indiscipline and being unprofessional.

“Be role models, avoid complacence and endeavour to be officers of high integrity if we are to have a better force. You should also investigate crime professionally and not use torture.”

The Kyambogo University Police chief, Simeo Nsubuga, urged the officers to follow the law when executing their duties and cautioned them against ‘taking’ property belonging to suspects.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});