Rwanda National Police

Members of the Association of Pentecostal Churches in Rwanda (ADEPR) in Kayonza District have been called upon to join efforts in combating domestic and gender based Violence.

The call was made on December 20 by the District Police Commander (DPC), Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Ndahimana Gisanga, while addressing pastors and elders of ADEPR in Gihinga Sector.

He noted that the role of religious denominations in fighting and denouncing gender based violence in their usual church activities.

He said GBV and domestic violence is real but often goes known or punished because of the silence associated with the crime.

“It is crucial that victims break silence if we are to get to the bottom of the issue, and we urge you to be part of this noble course,” CIP Gisanga said.

He said that the government set-up laws to punish offenders but also to facilities to rehabilitate victims of gender based and domestic violence and child abuse, citing the example of Isange One Stop centres that have so far been established in 28 district hospitals across the country.

All the seven districts of the Eastern Province currently have Isange centres, which offer free legal, medical, counseling services and aftercare services to the victims of GBV and child abuse.

“As clerics, you can contribute to building peacefully and harmonious households,” he said.