English
Kinyarwanda
Twenty police officers from nine member states of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) completed a 10-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigations, held at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.
The course was officially closed on Friday, June 19, by Jean Marie Twagirayezu, Director General in Charge of Criminal Investigations (DGCI) at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
The specialized course, aimed at strengthening regional capacity to prevent and respond to SGBV-related crimes, brought together participants from Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, and Uganda.
Jean Marie Twagirayezu commended the participants for their commitment to advancing professional standards in SGBV investigations
“This occasion marks the successful completion of two weeks of intensive learning, professional exchange, and regional collaboration aimed at strengthening our collective capacity to investigate and respond effectively to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases,” Twagirayezu said.
He emphasized that SGBV remains one of the most serious violations of human rights and a significant challenge to peace, security, and social development across the region.
“Effective investigations are essential to ensuring justice for victims, accountability for perpetrators, and public confidence in our criminal justice systems,” he noted.
Twagirayezu thanked the Eastern Africa Standby Force, development partners, facilitators, and experts from Denmark for their contribution to the success of the training.
“Your active participation, professionalism, and willingness to exchange experiences have significantly enriched the learning process and strengthened regional cooperation in addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,” he told participants.
He urged the newly trained officers to act as trainers and ambassadors of best practices within their countries.
“The knowledge and skills you have acquired should not remain with you alone. You are expected to become multipliers of this expertise within your respective institutions and countries,” he said.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including adult learning principles, SGBV in peace support operations, crime scene management, investigative strategies, and interviewing techniques for victims, witnesses, and suspects.
Col. Pol Melance Ntakiyiruta, Head of the EASF Police Component, described the course as a transformative initiative for strengthening regional capacity to protect vulnerable populations during peace support operations.
“Today, I am contented that the aim of building a core training capability within Police Contributing Countries to prepare specialized SGBV investigators for Peace Support Operations has been fully achieved without any iota of doubt,” Ntakiyiruta said.
He praised member states for nominating highly qualified participants who demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and advanced expertise throughout the training.
According to Ntakiyiruta, the first week of the course focused on adult learning methodologies and training delivery techniques, while the second week concentrated on specialized investigative interviewing and crime scene management.
The training sought to enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of SGBV investigations by equipping officers with the skills needed to support survivors, collect and preserve evidence, and contribute to successful prosecution of offenders.
It also focused on developing instructional competencies among participants, enabling them to train fellow officers and expand the reach of specialized SGBV investigative knowledge across national police institutions in Eastern Africa.
