On 8 November 2023, 30 participants (12 women and 18 men), including Latvian police officers and staff of the State Police College, took part in the launching of a new Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) online course on "Violence against women and domestic violence for law enforcement” in Riga.

The hybrid launching conference was opened by Marta Becerra, Head of Co-operation Unit at the Council of Europe Gender Equality Division and colonel Anita Fišere, Deputy Director of the State Police College. An introduction to the HELP Programme was provided by Ana-Maria Telbis from the Council of Europe HELP Unit, and Louise Hooper, Council of Europe expert, presented the HELP course on violence against women and domestic violence for law enforcement.

This tutored online course spanning three months, aims to provide police officers with both theoretical and practical materials related to violence against women. The course intends to raise awareness amongst participants about the many forms of violence and its impact on victims and society as a whole. Participants will also discuss how to respond quickly and effectively to cases of violence against women and domestic violence. The course covers techniques for interviewing victims and perpetrators, as well as practical steps for first responders and investigators.

Two certified HELP tutors will be guiding participants of this course. Vita Zukule, Head of the Department of Law at the State Police College, and Andis Rinkevics, Head of the Prevention Management Bureau at the Central Public Order Police Department, State Police.

The event was organised as part of the Council of Europe “Ending Violence against Women: Multi-Country Programme”.