BackOn 3 December 2013, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) presents its fundamental rights-based police training manual at the International Conference on Human Rights Education and Training for the Civil and Public Service in Dublin, Ireland. This training manual seeks to help foster a relationship of trust between police and society as a whole by integrating human rights considerations into police training.
The rights to non-discrimination, dignity and life are a particular focus, as they are cornerstones of peaceful and diverse societies. The manual also seeks to promote fundamental rights as a tool to enhance police effectiveness and professionalism.
A FRA survey revealed that 65% of respondents from immigrant and ethnic minority groups did not report incidents of racist incidents or threats to the police. Over half of these (55%) said they did not do so because of a ‘lack of trust’ in the police. This training manual provides practical tools to make sure all vulnerable groups feel that they are treated equally and fairly by the police. Furthermore, the manual supports police officers in developing the appropriate skills and attitudes to uphold fundamental rights in diverse communities. It also includes a collection of good practices currently used by police academies across the EU.
This training manual is available in English and was developed in close cooperation with the Association of European Police Colleges (AEPC), the European Police College (CEPOL) and their networks of national police academies, as well as police and human rights experts from international organisations and civil society. The manual can be downloaded on the FRA website (see link below).
Source: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
