QADER Concludes a Specialized Training Program for Police Officers on Disability Inclusion in Policing

In partnership with the Grievance and Human Rights Department, QADER for Community Development concluded a specialized training program on “disability inclusion in policing”, implemented at the Palestine College of Police Science in the city of Jericho. The program which was attended by officers across various police departments was part of an institutional approach aimed at strengthening disability inclusion and advancing professional policing practices. 

The program employed an in-depth training approach that addressed the conceptual framework of disability inclusion and the shift from the medical-charitable model to the rights-based developmental model. It focused on the accurate use of disability-related concepts within the policing context, as well as the alignment of national legislation with international conventions and the latest relevant standards, foremost among them the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). 

The training included applied analysis of practical cases within the policing performance cycle, particularly during investigation, inquiry, evidence collection, and public prosecution proceedings. It highlighted the role of the police as first responder within the protection system, and emphasized the importance of reasonable accommodation, legal capacity, procedural safeguards, and the protection of human dignity, to enhance professional performance and the adoption of an inclusive approach while handling disability related. 

Conducted over three training days, the program witnessed active and meaningful engagement by male and female participant officers, alongside in-depth discussions on practical challenges and intersecting readings of legislation, policies, and contemporary international standards. These discussions included consideration of the Concluding Observations of the CRPD to the State of Palestine 2025, with the aim of strengthening professional awareness and local ownership of the training concepts and tools. 

The pocket guide on disability inclusion in policing, which QADER for Community Development is developing as a practical support tool for officers in the field, was also discussed, and participants’ feedback was collected to strengthen its practical and institutional character. 

The program received strong commendation from police leadership, including the Director of the Grievance and Human Rights Department., Brigadier General Dr. Ayman Hamdan, the Director of the Palestine College of Police Sciences, Brigadier General Ibrahim Al-Abbasi, as well as from organizing and participant officers. This recognition reflected the program’s high level of specialization and its significance in developing policing performance and strengthening the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the State of Palestine. 

The program also witnessed constructive strategic discussions with police leadership to foster institutional partnership, paving the way for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Director General of the Palestinian Police. This aims to institutionalize a specialized and sustainable approach and ensure integrated roles in advancing disability inclusion and protecting the most vulnerable groups, in line with Palestine’s obligations under the CRPD and international best practices.