Santa Cruz de Tenerife 5 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The Ministry of Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice and Security has partnered with the Safety and Emergency Cooperation Programme in Gambia, facilitated by the NGO Starup, which involves the Gambiano Ministry of Interior and the General Corps of the Canarian Police.
In this context, the specialist officer in this field, Joel Lorenzo, has travelled to this African nation to provide training to twenty police officers, addressing the risks of violence against women and children prevalent in areas of tourism development.
Councillor Nieves Lady Barreto remarked in a statement that this partnership highlights “the high level of training” achieved by the Autonomous Police and expressed hope that such collaborations will continue to flourish in the future in all areas where the knowledge and experiences of the General Corps of the Canarian Police can be beneficial.
Gambia’s Interior Minister Abdoulie Sanyang emphasised that tourism must unquestionably be a safe environment, particularly for women and children, who are the most vulnerable, as noted by the Ministry.
The head of the NGO STARUP, Sonja Arup, which implements crucial child protection programmes in the Canary Islands, explained that their aim in Gambia is to lay the groundwork for training emergency and security units to combat sexual tourism, as the overarching goal of the programme is to foster a climate that attracts investors, thereby creating employment and encouraging development.
The training session conducted by Joel Lorenzo prepared 20 officers over a period of 20 hours, equipping them with essential knowledge and tools to both prevent and respond to violence in tourist regions.
“Our focus is not merely on reactive measures but on fostering prevention, security, and respect,” Lorenzo stated.
He further noted that this serves as an “opportunity” to share experiences and knowledge gained over recent years with “Gambian colleagues” in the field of child welfare.
“We recognise the challenging circumstances faced by African nations and the determination of the Gambian government to improve its situation. We firmly believe that the substantial advancement of the Canarian police can aid in the development of Gambia’s police force,” commented Joel Lorenzo.
Indicators of Abuse
The training provided by the Canarian officer began with identifying the most prevalent forms of childhood violence, whether psychological or physical, including labour and sexual exploitation, parental neglect and abandonment, human trafficking, forced marriages, victimisation by criminal gangs, and even female genital mutilation, as experienced in several African countries.
Therefore, it is vital to recognise the signs that suggest a child may be enduring physical abuse, such as burns, bite marks, bruises, and even broken bones.
These marks may appear following an extended absence from school, with accompanying symptoms of depression and anxiety. Often, children may fear returning home if their parents are the aggressors, may struggle to sleep, and may display signs of distress when near these adults.
In cases of school dropouts, Lorenzo explains, it can manifest in signs such as constant hunger, poor hygiene, frequent absences, involvement in criminal activities, or arriving at school very early or leaving too late.
Orphaned minors represent, in these cases, a primary target for child trafficking; their lack of familial support and ease of manipulation make them exceedingly vulnerable.
For refugees or migrants passing through Gambia, they may often be unaware of their surroundings, tend to withhold information, and exhibit evasive behaviour.
The Canarian officer also shared protocols for engaging with minors, emphasising the utmost respect for the child and the use of age-appropriate language that reflects their circumstances.
Lastly, he introduced the Canary Protocol for the compilation of information in comprehensive reports submitted to the Minors Prosecutor and the General Directorate of Child Protection, which also included cases of migrants to ensure the best outcomes possible.
