Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP), on Monday, started series of training for local leaders and security personnel.

The training is being held under the theme "Enhancing capacities in gender based violence and child abuse prevention and response."

The training that was conducted concurrently in Nyamagabe and Nyabihu, on the first day, will continue to Rubavu and Nyaruguru.

At least 100 security personnel benefited from the training in Nyamagabe while other 200 including local leaders were trained in Nyabihu.

The training brings together Rwanda National Police (RNP), Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), District Administrative Security Support Organ (DASSO) and local leaders.

More than 600 people are targeted for the training, countrywide.

While speaking in Nyamagabe District, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lynder Nkuranga, the Executive Director for the Regional Center of Excellence on GBV and Child Abuse, said that the training is meant to remind local leaders and security organs of their role in preventing and responding to gender based violence and child abuse.

ACP Nkuranga, who is also the Commissioner for Cooperation in RNP, reiterated the role of security organs to end violence against women and girls.

“The training aims at equipping security organs to skillfully confront GBV challenges. We urge security organs to reach out to their residents and amplify their voice against the vice,” she said.

She added that GBV is among serious issues that need more attention efforts to effectively address it.

She reminded participants of all sorts of  GBV and child abuse and urged them to understand the urgency it requires, collective response, breaking silence anf  timely reporting.

The Vice Mayor of Nyamagabe in charge of Economic Development, Lambert Kabayiza said that breaking the silence on violence against women, girls and children will inform effective response including supporting victims and ensuring justice.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Teddy Ruyenzi, the Deputy Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety department in Charge of Administration, presided over the opening of the training in Nyabihu District.

ACP Ruyenzi said that bringing down the rate of GBV and child abuse cases requires "having the same understanding of the problem and joint response."

“This training comes to further raise awareness against GBV and child abuse. As local leaders, you have a vital role to play to supplement security and justice efforts. We call for your practical cooperation with law enforcement agencies to these vices," ACP Ruyenzi said.

Jean Claude Habanabakize, the Vice Mayor of Nyabihu in charge of Economic Development, urged participants to make good use of the acquired knowledge and share the skills with their colleagues, and the public in general to respond to the problem collectively.

More than 2600 cases of defilement were registered in Nyabihu in the last three years.

Habanabakize said that these led to unwanted pregnancy and school drop-out, among others.

Annonciate Murekatete, one of the participants in Nyabihu said the training was helpful in terms of understanding more the issue of gender based violence, and how to effectively fight it.

"We discussed various topics including causes of GBV and prevention, how to handle victims of GBV; the role of local leaders to fight against GBV among others. The training was helpful and we expect it will be fruitful," Murekatete said.