[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
When someone comes forward to report sexual violence, they are often going through one of the most difficult moments of their life. At that moment, the way they are received can make all the difference: it can determine whether they feel safe enough to continue the process, access health services, or begin the journey toward protection and justice. <\/p>\n
Lieutenant \u00c1lvaro Miranda, head of the Prevention, Training, and Inter-Agency Coordination Unit of the Special Force to Combat Violence (FELCV), is well aware of this reality. During his years of service within this specialized unit of the Bolivian Police, he came to understand that filing a complaint is not just a procedure. Behind every case is a person who needs to be heard, guided, and supported. <\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(245,247,148,0.31)” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put ourselves in the other person\u2019s shoes. What if we had a family member going through the same thing? We think about that, and that\u2019s why we always try our very best to provide the kind of care that, in one way or another, the people who come to our offices are seeking: protection, support, and redress for the harm that has been done,\u201d he explains.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The need to strengthen these responses remains urgent. According to data from the Attorney General\u2019s Office, 50,325 cases of gender-based violence, 3,737 cases of sexual abuse, and 3,140 reports of rape were recorded in Bolivia in 2024. Behind every statistic are people seeking protection, guidance, and access to justice. <\/p>\n In this context, Ipas Bolivia is working with FELCV to build capacity in comprehensive care for victims of sexual violence, with an emphasis on implementing the Comprehensive Care Protocol, preventing revictimization, and the importance of providing a high-quality, compassionate response from the very first point of contact.<\/p>\n \u00c1lvaro was part of this capacity-building initiative led by Ipas Bolivia through the Training of Trainers (ToT)<\/strong> model .<\/strong> The methodology aims to ensure that knowledge is not confined to a small group of participants, but can be replicated within the police institution itself.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DSC06268-scaled.jpg” title_text=”DSC06268″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In previous years, Ipas Bolivia supported the training of 26 police trainers nationwide, who subsequently facilitated similar training sessions in Tarija, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, and El Alto. In 2025, the process continued with members of the FELCV in La Paz and El Alto, reaching approximately 200 police officers. <\/p>\n More than just a one-off training session, the process aims to strengthen the response capacity of those who receive victims in the immediate aftermath of an assault. Through technical, conceptual, and practical tools, participants deepen their knowledge of comprehensive care, prevention of revictimization, and implementation of the Comprehensive Care Pathway for victims of sexual violence. <\/p>\n For \u00c1lvaro, these opportunities also provided a chance to reflect on the importance of complementing the standard procedures and tools of his work with an approach centered on the needs of the victims. That learning experience also led him to question prejudices that still persist in society. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get rid of that mindset,\u201d<\/em> he says, referring to the ideas that often blame victims for the violence they have suffered. For \u00c1lvaro, a person should not be judged based on how they dress, where they were, or what time the incident occurred. Sexual violence can affect anyone, and the institutional response must be free of stigma. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DSC06299-scaled.jpg” title_text=”DSC06299″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In an institution that is often called into question by the public, stories like \u00c1lvaro\u2019s show that there are also professionals committed to improving their work, adopting new tools, and helping to provide a more humane response to violence.<\/p>\n Stories like \u00c1lvaro\u2019s show that improving care for victims of sexual violence also means strengthening the capacity of those on the front lines of response. Through training and support programs, Ipas Bolivia works with organizations such as FELCV to promote comprehensive, non-judgmental care that is centered on the needs of victims. <\/p>\n For \u00c1lvaro, the lesson has been clear: behind every complaint there is a person who needs to be heard; and for Ipas Bolivia, every public servant who adopts this perspective represents an opportunity to bring protection, health, and justice to those who need it most.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DSC07883-scaled.jpg” title_text=”DSC07883″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When someone comes forward to report sexual violence, they are often going through one of the most difficult moments of their life. At that moment, the way they are received can make all the difference: it can determine whether they feel safe enough to continue the process, access health services, or begin the journey toward […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":6143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipas-in-action"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipasbolivia.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Photo 2. Lieutenant \u00c1lvaro Miranda (left) during one of the training workshops, explaining the material to other police officers.<\/em><\/h4>\n
Photo 3. Police officers from the FELCV during a recreational activity at the \u201cTraining of Trainers\u201d workshop, held on December 9 and 10, 2025, in the city of La Paz. <\/em><\/h4>\n