LocationsUNDP and OHCHR support training for 11,000 police officers in electoral security and protection issues
August 29, 2023
A little more than 11,000 police officers from the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), assigned to provincial commands across the country, are benefiting from a 3-day training course on electoral security and protection, organized by the PRM General Command, in partnership with the UNDP Democracy and Elections project and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Family photo of electoral security and protection training
The training aims to equip officers of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique with the knowledge, standards and procedures to act during electoral processes in order to guarantee a safe and peaceful electoral environment.
Security based on human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms
A secure, peaceful and orderly electoral environment is crucial to guaranteeing the integrity of all electoral acts and the basis for the exercise of fundamental freedoms. Speaking at the opening of the training, the UNDP's Chief Technical Advisor for the Democracy and Elections project, Mr Andres del Castillo, argued that police officers have a very important role to play in protecting human rights, particularly during electoral processes - a time when citizens tend to actively and participatively express and exercise their civil and political rights.
"For this reason, it is important that police officers understand their role as agents of authority and as protectors and defenders of human rights, incorporating human rights into the principles of their activities as the basis for their actions," he explained.
Chief Technical Advisor for the UNDP Democracy and Elections project, Mr Andres del Castillo, speaking at the training on electoral security and protection issues.
Notes to editors:
About UNDP:
- UNDP works in 170 countries and territories with the aim of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships, institutional capacities and build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work focuses on three main areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peacebuilding, and resilience to climate change and disasters.
- UNDP's mission and vision: UNDP's mandate is to eradicate poverty, promote democratic governance, the rule of law and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change and connect countries with the knowledge, experience and resources needed to help people build a better life.
About the project:
- Since the first multiparty elections, UNDP has worked closely with Mozambique's electoral and justice bodies, contributing to the consolidation of peace, transparency and effectiveness of electoral processes. Through its Strategic Plan, UNDP underlines the importance of consolidating and strengthening democratic processes and institutional practice in Mozambique. Fundamental to these objectives is the involvement of citizens as key stakeholders in the governance and administration of Mozambique, with the aim of achieving full adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
- "Strengthening Democracy and Electoral Processes in Mozambique" is a four-year UNDP project designed to strengthen the democratic and electoral system in Mozambique and builds on previous electoral support and lessons learned as the country enters its electoral cycle, including the run-up to the 2023 Local Elections and the 2024 General Elections.
- The UNDP Democracy and Elections project is developed based on the formal request of the Government of Mozambique, the recommendation of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) conducted by the United Nations in April 2021, the reports of international election observers on the 2019 elections and is aligned with the UNDP Country Programme Document (PCD) and the Government of Mozambique's Five-Year Plan 2020-2024 (Government Five-Year Programme, PQG).
For more information:
UNDP:
Andres Castillo. Tel +258 850751959, andres.castillo@undp.org - CTA, Democracy and Elections Project
Rochan Kadariya. Tel. +258 842776492, rochan.kadariya@undp.org – Digital Electoral Solutions Specialist
Mateus Fotine. Tel. +258 879880203, mateus.fotine@undp.org - Information and External Relations Officer
END
