English
Kinyarwanda
A team of 36 activists dedicated to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV) within the East African Community (EAC) took a tour of the Isange One Stop Centre, to learn from the centre’s overall experience in helping victims of violence.
Located at Kacyiru Police Hospital, the centre was officially opened by the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame in 2009, and has since its establishment offered treatment, psychological and legal help to over 80,000 victims of gender violence, mostly women.
Loosely translated as “feel at home,” Isange’s model will be scaled up to all district hospitals by 2017.
The delegation which includes police officials and civil servants including doctors from EAC member states was received by Chief Inspector of Police Shafiga Murebwayire, the centre’s coordinator, on November 4, who provided a preview of how the centre is managed.
“This centre has given hope to women and children. Crimes against women and children must be stopped – and this is one of the best ways to stop them, by establishing a centre entirely dedicated to their support,” Murebwayire said.
One of the delegates, Dr. Michael Nsabiyumva, from the Burundi National Police Services, commended Rwanda National Police for its significant strides in addressing GBV, noting that the scourge is a major threat to society.
“Isange Centre is one of those models that every country must adopt as a good practice. Fighting this crime is important if we are to sustain the progress we have made in East Africa and empower women,” Dr. Nsabiyumva argued.
The delegation is in the country for a 3-day meeting aimed at discussing and sharing experiences in the fight against GBV.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has been involved in several local and international campaigns against GBV.
Rwanda, through its security organs, late last month hosted the 4th Kigali International Conference Declaration (KICD) Annual General Meeting on the role of security organs in ending violence against women and girls.
The force also conducts annual awareness campaigns, in partnership with other stakeholders to raise the awareness and response against the vice among all Rwandans.
