Fifty-six Officers-in-Charge running Women and Children’s Desks across Sri Lanka have completed the third intake of a Diploma on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the National Police Academy in Katana, the UNDP said on Friday.
The 16-week programme combines coursework, practical training and a viva component, equipping officers to deliver gender-sensitive and survivor-centred responses to SGBV cases.
“More than a training, this diploma marks a significant step towards transforming policing practices embedding a trauma-informed, evidence-based, and accountable approach to addressing violence against women and girls nationwide,” the UN Development Programme in Sri Lanka said.
Funded by Canada, implemented with UNFPA
The diploma is delivered under the project “Ensuring Justice for Victim-Survivors of SGBV in Sri Lanka”, funded by the Canadian High Commission and implemented in partnership with UNFPA Sri Lanka. UNDP leads the programme.
The Women and Children’s Desks are the first point of contact for women, girls and children reporting violence at police stations. Officer-level training in the third intake follows two earlier batches and is intended to embed trauma-informed practices through the OIC tier.
The intake comes amid renewed attention to violence against women and children in Sri Lanka, including 4,742 cybercrime cases against women reported in 2025 and a growing docket of child protection cases.
