Rwanda National Police

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, DCG Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza, on Monday, June 8, opened a 10-day regional Training of Trainers (TOT) course on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigations, at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The specialized training brought together 20 police officers from nine member states of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), including Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, and Uganda.

The course aims to enhance the region’s capacity to investigate SGBV cases professionally, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable, while equipping participants with the skills and resources to train fellow officers in their respective countries.

Speaking at the opening of the course, DCG Ujeneza welcomed participants to Rwanda and underscored the importance of strengthening regional capacities to address SGBV.

“As we gather here, we share a common vision for a peaceful, stable, and secure Eastern Africa where every individual, regardless of gender, lives free from the fear of violence,” she said.

She noted that SGBV remains one of the most pervasive and underreported human rights violations in the region, emphasizing that the ability to address such crimes is critical for operational readiness both at the national level and in peace support missions.

“SGBV is a tool used to break families and destroy the fabric of community stability, as well as a silent war in conflict zones,” DCG Ujeneza said, encouraging participants to actively engage in the course, exchange experiences, and build lasting professional networks.

She also expressed appreciation to the EASF Secretariat, facilitators, and development partners for supporting the training, which is being conducted at the Regional Centre of Excellence on Gender-Based Violence in Kigali.

Col. Pol. Melance Ntakiyiruta, the Head of the EASF Police Component said the training is a strategic investment in strengthening member states’ capacity to investigate and respond to SGBV, particularly in conflict settings.

“Rwanda's amazing journey in post-conflict recovery, and its global leadership on gender equality and the protection of women and girls, make it an inspiration to us all,” Col. Ntakiyiruta said.

He further urged participants to fully engage throughout the ten-day programme and use the acquired skills to strengthen justice and protection mechanisms for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence

The course will focus on adult learning principles, SGBV in peace support operations, crime scene management, investigative strategies, and interviewing techniques for victims, witnesses, and suspects.