VICTORIA, Seychelles — A group of police officers from the Seychelles Police Force yesterday attended a training workshop aimed at strengthening their understanding of the Anti-Hate Crime Legislation, which has been in place in the country since September 2023, and the procedures for enforcing it. The one-day session was held at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa in Beau Vallon.
The training was facilitated by Professor Mark Walters of Sussex Law School in the United Kingdom and Rosie Brighouse from the Human Dignity Trust, an international human rights organisation also from the UK. During the workshop, the participants, mostly drawn from the Criminal Investigation and the Family Squad and Child Protection units, learned about the reason the country has criminalised hate. They were walked through the legislative provisions introduced into the Penal Code and the practical steps required when handling cases that fall under the new framework.
The training is part of a continuing effort to build capacity within the Police Force to apply the new law fairly and consistently, with the input of international experts helping to align the local approach with comparable jurisdictions. The facilitators noted that the presence of officers from specialised units would help ensure the legislation is interpreted correctly from the outset, particularly in cases involving vulnerable groups. The session forms part of broader human-rights and inclusion work being carried out in cooperation with international partners.
