Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) held the 9th Women Convention, yesterday, to further reflect on the achievements and how to effectively address the existing challenges that affect female officers towards the improvement of the entire force.

Close to 200 female Police officers drawn from different units across the country are taking part in the three-day convention at the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru under the theme: “Sustaining Gender Equality for Professional Policing.”

Juvenal Marizamunda, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel. 

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda, while presiding over the official opening of the convention, said that “professional policing entails a gender responsive policing that puts systematic attention to gender differences, enabling the police to become equally responsive to different needs and interests of women and men.”

“This means that the principals of gender equality must be systematically integrated throughout all police procedures, rules and regulations, making the police a better place to work for both women and men,” DIGP Marizamunda said.

Fodé Ndiaye, UN Resident Coordinator. 

He noted that increasing opportunities for women in policing creates a police force that is more representative of the community in serves.

 “Achieving gender equality doesn’t come just by recruiting more women in police; we believe change should come from improved policies, structures and practices leading to changes in organizational structure,” he added.

Female police constitute about 21 per cent of the current total force, up from less than one per cent when RNP was created in the year 2000.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Fodé Ndiaye observed that the convention serves as an opportunity to “celebrate the tremendous achievements of Rwanda in gender equality and women empowerment with focus on peace and security.”

“We strongly believe that peace and security can’t be attained if women are not enabled to lead and contribute to their fullest potential…it is likely that sustainable development and economic transformation cannot be achieved if women are left behind,” Mr. Ndiaye said.

He particularly thanked the role of the female officers in peace support operations, especially in combating gender based violence and other forms domestic violence.

Rwanda is currently the second highest African contributor of female police peacekeepers. As of February, Rwanda was ranked the third highest overall contributor of police and military peacekeepers, globally.

“We have witnessed families that have been reunited and are currently living in harmony enjoying more productive lives. Women have been significant in the impressive performance of the directorates of gender promotion, gender desks, Isange One Stop centres and focal points established across the country,” Mr. Ndiaye observed.