Eastern Africa Standby Force Launches Child Protection Course in Mombasa

 The Guest of Honour, Ms. Dolly Anyango, Assistant Inspector General and Director of Gender and Child Protection at the Kenya Police Service, commended the initiative for empowering officers with essential knowledge and skills to handle child-related cases.

“Children are among the most vulnerable members of our society,” she said, noting that many still suffer from abuse, neglect, and trafficking. “As police officers, we must protect every child’s right to safety and dignity with professionalism, empathy, and a deep understanding of child protection laws”.

Ms. Anyango urged participants to share the knowledge gained from the training upon returning to their home countries to foster “a culture within the service that truly safeguards our children”.

Commissioner Bacar Ali Said, Head of the EASF Police Component, expressed gratitude to the Government of Kenya for hosting the event and to the Royal Kingdom of Norway for its support. He emphasized that protecting civilians, especially children, is a key responsibility in peace support operations under international law.

Danish Police Advisor SP Allan Riis highlighted that while conflicts affect everyone, children “suffer in a unique and disproportionate way,” losing families, education, and safety. “By integrating child protection into peace operations, we help build lasting peace,” he added.

The course features five trainers from Kenya, Uganda, Comoros, and Rwanda, supported by four Norwegian and one Danish mentor, with 20 participants representing EASF’s nine member states.