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Kinyarwanda
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President Paul Kagame has challenged governments and security organs in Africa to make the issue of gender based violence a top priority if the scourge is to be comprehensively approached and responded to effectively.
The Head of State made the remarks on August 18 while officiating at the opening of the ‘Command Post Exercise Africa UNiTE II,’ at the Rwanda National Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru.
The second edition of the Exercise which is registered in the framework of Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) brings together 103 participants from 30 African countries under the theme: “Africa Security Organs’ Synergy to End Violence against Women and Girls.”
“The only way to think about GBV is as a violation of rights, crime and indeed a threat to progress in Africa and around the world,” President Kagame said.
To call it anything else or less, he noted, would only “add to the assault”, adding that this kind of abuse is “completely unacceptable,”
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“Women are our mothers, daughters, wives. What debate is there in treating them as decent as they should? He wondered, noting that violence against women and girls not only harms the victims, but also impacts negatively on the wellbeing of their families and communities.
“The equality of women is a cornerstone of our democracy. Therefore we have to work together in Rwanda, and globally to end these crimes. It requires more than words to protect women and girls from violence. Perpetuators must be held accountable and those who protect them must be shamed.”
The Head of State said that Rwanda’s security and defence forces have earned the respect and trust of Rwandans for restoring peace and stability while respecting and enhancing the dignity of each citizen they serve, including women.
“We have also worked hard to do what is right by establishing an institutional framework that expects the full participation of women in all aspects of national life.”
He said that there must be will, determination and values within all ranks to guide correct and professional conducts both at national and international peace operations, and to act without fear or favor.
He challenged participants to turn the theory into real practice.
He commended the work of Isange One stop centre which supports victims and their families while working to prevent future abusive.
“This initiative shows what is possible when governments, institutions including the national police, development partners and civil society collaborate to find practical solutions.”
Isange, which started in 2009 as a pilot project, offers free medical, psycho-socio and legal services to victims of GBV, and was adopted by the 43 Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) member countries as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for African security institutions.
“Being there for women is being there for yourself,” he said, calling on everyone to also be part of the ‘HeForShe’ campaign, to produce tangible results.
HeForShe is a solidarity campaign for gender equality initiated by UN Women. Its goal is to engage men and boys as agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights.
The Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, who is also the current chair of KICD, thanked President Kagame for his guidance, unwavering vision and support to KICD initiatives.
“When you officiated at the maiden CPX also held in Kigali in October 2013, your strategic guidance became pivotal in all strategic decisions made in relation to ending violence against women and girls for a peaceful Africa where men, women, boys and girls enjoy their full rights,” IGP Gasana said.
He noted that KICD has made tremendous efforts to realize its agenda including developing training manual and standard operating procedures, capacity building on prevention and response, while plans to construct the secretariat block in Kigali are underway.
KICD as a continental body that started in 2010 to champion fight against GBV, is currently composed of 42 African member states.
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This Command Post Exercise aims at enhancing capacities and capabilities of the security forces to respond to gender based violence both at home and in peacekeeping operations.
“We have no option; we must act now; we must move from commitment to action. We must train together to guarantee acceptable levels of operational readiness to prevent and effectively respond to challenges women and girls face,” IGP Gasana, said.
Letty Chiwara, the UN Women Representative to Ethiopia and AU, said that one distinguishing features of the launch of the Africa UNiTE campaign here in Kigali in 2010, was not only about enhancing the capacities of the security organs in the country, but also ensuring that good practices of Rwanda like Isange One Stop Centre are shared widely across the whole of Africa.
She was full of praises for what she witnessed in 2010 during the launch of Africa UNiTE campaign in Kigali, for seeing “men and women in uniform seated on the same table discussing issues women and girls face and laid concrete strategies to deal with the vice.
“In Africa, some countries are in conflict, others are in post conflict and reconstruction phase, and yet others continue to encounter crisis while others enjoy relative peace. However, in all these contexts, women and girls continue to safer from violence, abuse and discrimination,” Chiwara, who is also the UN Economic Commission for Africa, said.
Lamin Manneh, the UN Resident Coordinator commended President Paul Kagame for his deep commitment towards gender equality to support women both at home and in difficult circumstances, and according dignity to women.
He further lauded Rwanda security organs and KICD secretariat for keeping the momentum and spirit of Africa UNiTE.
“It is acknowledged throughout the world, that Rwanda security forces are highly devoted to protecting civilians, especially women and young girls in conflict situations. This is a reflection of ideals that you stand for,” Lamin said.
KICD annual general meeting is rotational and CPX is also conducted annually by the host country. Algeria will host the 2015/2016 KICD and CPX.
