Rwanda National Police

Gender Monitoring Office in partnership with Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rulindo District yesterday launched a three-day exhibition that will showcase Rwanda’s outstanding gender related achievements and initiatives as well as their impact on promoting gender equality at community level.

The exhibition that is in the framework of “Gender Accountability Day” will run up from 19 to 21 October 2017 to showcase is held under the theme ‘Sustaining Gender Equality gains, accelerating change for inclusive growth’.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Espérance Nyirasafari, said that GBV and child abuse are serious offences punishable by law and we are happy with how different institutions like the judiciary and the police have stood up strong against the scourge.

“Exploit Isange One Stop Centers and remember that one of the ways of eliminating GBV and child abuse is through breaking the silence…..development can never be attained or sustained when some continue to face discrimination and abuse from societies in which they live and this is why the Government of Rwanda has maintained a strong stance in the fight against all forms of Gender Based Violence,” said the Minister.

Among the main exhibitors is RNP, whose stand hosts Mobile Police Station and Isange One Stop Center Mobile van and community policing activities.

Present at the launch was the Minister of State in charge of Constitutional and Legal affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana, the Governor of the Northern Province Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi and the the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K Gasana among other officials.

At the event, IGP Gasana detailed RNP’s commitment towards ensuring gender equality and promotion saying that Rwanda strongly addresses and eliminates gender based violence as a matter of security priority, and the country established holistic and community based model on GBV prevention and response.

“RNP has put in place several mechanisms to address cases of GBV and child abuse but also reaches out to the public to educate them as a preventive measure,” said the police Chief.

The establishment of Isange One Stop Centers that provide holistic 24 hour services to victims of GBV under one roof, so as to avoid re-victimization, risk of spoiled evidence and delayed justice. There are now 43 operational Isange One Stop Centers across the country.

He also hinted on the expansion of RNP’s outreach facilities like the mobile vans so that the force can serve Rwandan better.

The three-day exhibition is also expected to serve as an opportunity to discuss on mechanisms to further improve institutional accountability to gender equality and GBV service delivery and also raise awareness on gender accountability and GBV prevention and response.

During that time, the Police Mobile vans will be actively receiving and handling complaints from residents, while police officers will be conducting public awareness under the community policing framework.

In her address, Chief Gender Monitor, Rose Rwabuhihi said; “We all have to ensure that the existing combined efforts and synergies towards promoting gender equality and combating Gender Based Violence are maintained. We also have to ensure that gender equality principles remain everyone’s responsibility at levels.’’

The launch of the exhibition was attended by over 3,000 participants including stakeholders from public and private institutions, security organs, development partners, Civil Society Organizations, local government leaders as well as Rulindo District residents.

The Gender Accountability Day is in the framework of the recently launched national governance and Family Campaign which was launched early this week at national level in Kirehe District and run until December 2017.

The UN Women Representative in Rwanda Fatou Lo said: “Today women from all parts of the country are able to celebration achievements made in gender ensuring equality. What Rwanda has achievement and the mechanisms of sustainability are very remarkable.”

The Gender Accountability Day comes in the framework of the started national governance and Family Campaign which was launched early this week at national level in Kirehe District and run until December 2017.