Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has asked residents of Gatsibo District to strive for their rights and respect those of others, and above all be in compliance with the law.

The call was made, yesterday, in Ngarama Sector during the ongoing countrywide week of justice conducted jointly by all institutions under the Justice Sector docket.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Denis Basabose, the commissioner for counter-terrorism told hundreds of residents that fighting crime or anything that affects their wellbeing is equally their right.

He noted that narcotic drugs are one of the things that influence violation of rights like sexual and gender based violence and child abuse.

 “The government strives for the good wellbeing of all the people; everyone needs to be healthy, children should be in school and people’s rights must be respected,” CP Basabose.

“Unfortunately, the youth are dropping out of school under the bondage of drugs; families are breaking, rights of women and children are being violated. We need you to stand up own the campaign against drugs, report dealers so as to break supplies and markets,” he added.

Health experts says that narcotic drugs like cannabis, heroin, cocaine and illicit gin and brew, cause mental complications, affects the health of the unborn baby for the expecting mothers, cause cancer as well as kidney and liver complications.

Mirindi Emile, the coordinator of Access to Justice Bureau (MAJ) in Gatsibo embarked on the law and urged them to stand up for their rights, break silence and report injustices they face.

Some of the challenges in dealing with sexual and gender violence include victims keeping silence, tampering with evidence, ignorance of the law and rights as well as secret understanding between the victim and offender or between two families.