Rwanda National Police

The police commander of Huye District, Supt. Justin Rukara has urged everyone and all organizations in the area to devise ways and means to reduced or eliminate gender-based violence (GBV).

The officer made the remarks yesterday in the town of Huye at a meeting with champions or advocates of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights in Huye. Rukara also emphasized the need to create more synergies amongst institutions charged with fighting gender-based violence together with local authorities as an effective means to combat the problem.

The Rwanda Inter-faith Council on Health (RICH) organized the meeting, bringing together participants and stakeholders that included head teachers, grassroots local leaders and heads of faith based and community organizations.

Supt. Rukara pointed out that though the state takes obligations seriously, always endeavoring to ensure respect of gender rights and protection of women’s sexual and reproductive health, violations of women and girl rights still are a frequent scourge that require full collaboration at all levels.

He took care to remind that sexual and gender-based violence is a physical, mental or social abuse that is directed against a person because of his or her gender role in a society or culture.

“Why are so many men beating up women, raping, and some even defiling very young girls?” the commander wondered.

He enumerated some of the consequences to the victim of GBV. These may include injuries that could lead to disabilities, even deaths, or depression leading to chronic physical complaints and illnesses. “Women’s sexual and reproductive health rights are also at risk when girls are subjected to early marriage,” he pointed out another problem.

Rukara told the trainees that gender mainstreaming is a crosscutting factor in policing, which is why officers frequently meet and engage with each other for the most effective ways or strategies to fight domestic violence, and spousal abuse – offences that make up GBV.

Officials appealed to local leaders to always tip off law enforcement organs of any suspected violation of persons, the better for appropriate security and legal actions to be taken.