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Kinyarwanda
Thirty eight women delegates attending the ongoing Women In Parliament (WIP) Summit in Rwanda visited the Rwanda National Police Gender Desk and the anti-gender and domestic violence medical wing - Isange One Stop Centre - located at the Kacyiru Police Hospital to witness how the force has responded to incidences of gender violence and child abuse in the country.
The experts toured various chambers of the Gender Desk and Isange where they were explained on the services offered to victims.
Isange was established in 2009 with the support of the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame through Imbuto Foundation and One-UN Rwanda offers free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to the victims.
The gender desk has since been decentralised to all District Police Units across the country while Isange is being scaled up to all district hospitals to get closer to the people as a holistic way of dealing with the vice.
Senior Supt. Rose Muhisoni, Director of the Anti-GBV and Child Protection Directorate in Rwanda National Police explained to them that the desk has a toll-free line (3512) that operates 24 hours, receives both women and men and offers both legal and counselling services.
This, SSP Muhisoni said, has led to reduction of family conflicts and helped women to know their rights and to report in case they are abused in any way.
Dr. Joyce Laboso, Deputy Speaker for Kenya National Assembly commended the force for the holistic initiatives to combat incidences of gender violence.
"This is an impressive trend to break the silence of women and children on the challenges they face...such as rape, defilement and assault," Dr. Laboso said.
She also lauded the government and legislators for the "political will and job well done" to enact laws and other initiatives to drive gender promotion and women rights.
"This is very positive; Rwanda has gone from words and produced policies that are women friendly," she noted.
About 160 experts from 45 countries across the world are attending the three-day WIP summit and will also join Rwandans on July 4 to mark the 20th liberation anniversary.
