Rwanda National Police

The ongoing Rwanda National Police nationwide awareness campaign against gender based violence and child abuse continued in the Eastern Province on April 20 where local leaders were challenged to reach out to their residents and amplify their voice against vices in order to harness public safety and security.

The awareness held in Ngoma and attended by hundreds of local leaders and security organs, among others, debated about GBV issues and how Rwandans can work together to combat such challenges.

Aphrodise Nambaje, the Mayor of Ngoma district noted that leaders should take front position in advocating against GBV and child abuse, by always engaging their residents and increasing coordination to overcome these challenges.

"Violence robs women and girls of their full potential and causes untold human suffering. Violence against women and child abuse obstruct economic development, threatens peace and prosperity, and slow down full participation in family and community affairs. There have been achievements against GBV, but as leaders, we must always strive to do more and better," Nambaje said.

"It is time for all of us to assume full responsibility to go beyond condemning this behavior and take concrete steps to end it. We must sensitize our communities and tell them that such crimes are criminal and not socially acceptable."

The Deputy Commissioner General of Police (DCGP) Stanley Nsabimana, noted that RNP put gender equality and the advancement of women and girls at the forefront in its operations, and called upon Rwandans to strongly respond to anti-GBV initiatives by reporting suspects who practice injustice towards women and children.

 "We at Police have devised core strategies to prevent and respond more effectively to GBV wherever it may manifest in society. Community leaders and residents should discuss among themselves and set concrete goals and actions to be implemented and monitored in order to protect women and children," he said.

"Regardless of the form that GBV takes, it is a human rights violation that Rwanda as a country has chosen to uproot from society. We can end this scourge if we can work together."

Superintendent Belline Mukamana, head of anti-Gender-based Violence and Child Protection Directorate at RNP, added that Rwandan communities should consider "prevention" of GBV as the first step, and it can be done by working with residents and leaders from the grassroots.

"Apart from identifying perpetrators in society, the community should offer protection to the vulnerable and victims of GBV and child abuse. Residents in communities should also work with authorities to ensure that perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted."

Gender-based violence takes on many forms and can occur without being detected sometimes. Types of gender-based violence usually include female infanticide; child sexual abuse; sex trafficking and forced labor; neglect; domestic violence; elder abuse; and harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage.

It is associated with many negative consequences, including adverse physical and mental health outcomes, limited access to education, increased costs relating to medical and legal services, lost household productivity, and reduced income.

Isange One Stop Centers across the country provide free medical, psycho-socio and legal services to GBV and child abuse victims. 

The centre was established in 2009 at Kacyiru Police Hospital (KPH) as a pilot project and has blossomed into 12 more centers across the country.

Plans to further scale up the centres up to 23  are at advanced stages as a strategy to fight GBV and mitigate its consequences.