English
Kinyarwanda
Researchers and academicians from the International Victimology Institute Tilburg, Netherlands and the University of Rwanda, on March 26 visited Rwanda National Police and hailed the force's existing partnership with the citizens in fostering an environment of trust and mutual partnership that have contributed heavily to the sustainability of peace and security in the country.
The 15 member group is in a partnership tour in the country that seeks to study about transitional justice mechanisms in Rwanda.
They were received at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru by Commissioner of Police, Felix Namuhoranye, Commandant of National Police College, alongside other senior police officers, who made presentations on different subjects that involve Police, including; how the force responds to security challenges in policing a post-genocide society and the role of Police in reconciliation and justice, among others.
In his remarks, CP Namuhoranye noted that policing a post-genocide Rwanda needed good governance that focused on constructing institutions of law and order based on the aspirations of the wider society.
“Before and during the genocide against the Tutsi, there was no cohesion and trust between the people and the law enforcing agencies. However, now both the public and Police share a relationship built on solving society challenges together with trust," CP Namuhoranye said.
“RNP has had a crucial role in ensuring peaceful conditions within which citizens can fully participate in the prosperity and wellbeing of their communities – and it is how Rwanda’s development has taken place on the foundation of law and order.”
Professor Cris Toffolo, of the department of Justice in Northern Illinois University, USA, said that the group had appreciated the evidence-based policing system that RNP employs, particularly the Community Policing program which has proved vital in sustaining peace.
“In many other societies in the world, people simply do not trust Police and this has led to many crimes being committed in communities. In order to confront such challenges, societies need to learn from Rwanda’s Community Policing strategies and implement them in order to bridge the gap between Police and citizens,” she said.
The Community Policing strategy developed by Rwanda National Police to effectively fulfill its duties brings the public in solving localized problems and make specific improvements that enhance the overall quality of life in their localities.
It increases a sense of responsibility for personal safety and problem solving among citizens and shifts from a predominantly reactive response to service calls, to proactive problem solving and increases effectiveness at resolving community-wide problems.
