Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Police Force has revised the General Police Order (GPO) as part of efforts to enhance its capability of delivering services to the members of the public, according to the law.
The adjusted GPO, whose writing was financed by the Legal Service Facility (LSF) at a cost of 400m/- is also meant to improve efforts in curbing domestic, gender based violence as well as infringement to rights of the children.
Speaking at the launch event of the revised GPO, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Simon Sirro said the Police Force is well organized to implement the guidelines.
He noted that the new guidelines have enabled formalization of the gender desks as a result of the improved provision of services to all members of the society.
“Establishment of the gender desks was part of efforts to protect women and children against all forms of violence, however they were yet to be included in the GPO,” he explained.
He explained that the orders will also formalise a network of women police as part of the important organs with Police Force in curbing violence against women and children.
For her part, the LSF Chief Executive Officer Lulu Ng’wanakilala said completion of the project was among the efforts that the foundation has been taking in working closer to the government in improving different policies aimed at promoting justice.
“This is part of our efforts to promote justice in the country.Wehope that the revised GPO will play a crucial role in putting forward the welfare of women and children as they have been the most victims of domestic and gender based violence,” she said.
In 2020, LSF provided legal aid services to almost 100,000 individuals in different parts of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, where more than half (60 per cent) were women.
“Out of all the reported cases to paralegals, almost 60 per cent were resolved,” she said, adding, LSF has also provided legal education to more than six million people across the country.
