English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) joined several public and private entities to strongly condemn the shameful and degrading acts committed against women in public areas.
The message was resounded on April 29 during a campaign against gender based violence (GBV), which by Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Kigali Bus Services and the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO).
The one day campaign began at Lemigo Hotel in Kigali, where representatives of public transporters engaged RNP and other organizers in candid discussions about the challenge of sexually assaulting women and girls in public spaces - particularly on buses - and how such acts can be discouraged.
The awareness campaign was thereafter taken to Remera Bus Park, where residents, passengers and public transporters listened to presentations on how to kick GBV out of public places and communities.
During these discussions, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzinwa, noted that GBV is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world, adding that it must be dealt with in Rwanda by all institutions and every responsible citizen.
“There is need to emphasize the call against GBV and remind citizens that they must pay greater attention to the application and enforcement of laws against any individual caught in the act of molesting women or girls in any open area or any other place,” she said.
“Some people assume that they can get away with molesting women in buses by touching them without their consent or calling them derogative names. We should not let them get away with this behavior. We should all come together and fight for the rights of our mothers, daughters, relatives and friends.”
Fidele Ndayisaba, the Mayor of the City of Kigali, said that there is strong political commitment to address the incidences of GBV; however, it must be matched with community willingness to effectively condemn such acts.
“Every Rwandan has a right to use public services without facing any form of molestation. If a woman sits next to a man in a bus, it does not call for any form of sexual assault against her. If such an act happens, those who witness it should condemn it and take the offender to authorities,” he said.
“If not stopped, such acts results in the deprivation of freedom and other negative consequences. Combating such discriminations require everyone’s effort.”
Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Butera, Commissioner for Operations in RNP who represented police at occasion added that Police has shown strong commitment to prevent and fight GBV, and will press on against suspected GBV culprits in society that are reported by citizens.
“Just like we have a zero tolerance towards corruption, the citizenry should also ensure that we have a zero tolerance attitude towards GBV. This intolerable behavior against women is not part of the Rwandan culture and should be stopped before it becomes a menace,” he said.
“Members of the public should immediately report any form of GBV that result in physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm, or threats of such acts, whether they occur in public or private places.”
As part of the fight against GBV, the Proprietor of Kigali Bus Services, Charles Ngarambe, said that the company had implemented a number of strategies to prevent sexual assault on buses.
These strategies include; putting stickers in buses with anti-GBV messages, playing audio messages calling against the scourge and dragging offenders to nearby police posts.
The public was also reminded about the toll free call services available, through which any case of GBV and child abuse can be reported in order for investigations to commence.
Police and the Gender Monitoring Office can be reached on 3512 and 5798 toll free calls, respectively.
