Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) is committed to supporting police personnel to reach the best of their abilities in consideration of gender equality and equity, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda, said.

He said that RNP has established mechanisms and strategies for gender mainstreaming including the establishment of gender promotion directorate, which the force will continue to build on to effectively implement national and international gender policies.

DIGP Marizamunda made the remarks on Monday at the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, while commencing the five-day Training of Trainers’ workshop for 60 police Gender Focal Persons drawn from all units of the force.

He said police officers should utilize the existing gender-sensitive policy to thrive at their work through representativeness and responsiveness without “any hindrances to their gender roles.”

The Deputy Police Chief urged female officers to join efforts in eliminating any gender stereotypes that may exist in areas of their operation before they culminate into sexual- and gender-based violence.

He appealed to them to commit themselves as agents of change and speak-up against any aspects that could inhibit their professional advancement or hinder security service to the community.

“Women officers have proven to be capable in any policing role; have confidence and believe in yourselves,” DIGP Marizamunda said, adding that the force will continue to support them and to ensure they gain entry into all areas of policing.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Goretti Mwenzangu, the Director for Gender Promotion at RNP, the training is intended to have a critical mass of skilled and knowledgeable personnel in all Police units and schools, to drive the ideals of gender concepts in their deployments.

She said the training will lead to increased knowledge and capacity in Gender mainstreaming.

During the course of five days, participants will be introduced to the gender concept, learn about UN resolutions and International gender frameworks, and the application of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) gender training manual, among other key issues.

With over 21 percent of the current total force being female officers, the force is working towards meeting the national threshold of 30 percent.

The periodic Police Women Convention and involvement of women in peacekeeping are all geared towards gender mainstreaming.

At least 30 percent of Rwandan peacekeepers around the world are female, including a female-dominated Formed Police Unit (FPU) serving under the UN Mission in South Sudan.

The deployment of female Police officers to peace support operations also reflects on how further Rwanda responds to international peace in the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 that stressed the important role women can play in peacekeeping and conflict resolution.

The UN resolution calls for more women in decision-making positions, a gender perspective to be “mainstreamed” across peacekeeping and for more women to participate in field operations as police and as human rights observers.