English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has said that preparations to generate an all-140-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to be deployed in UN peacekeeping operations are in “high gear.”
"Subsequent to the pledge made by HE Paul Kagame the President of the republic of Rwanda , and Commander-in-chief of defense and security forces during the UN Leaders'Summit on Peace keeping Operations on Monday to deploy an extra military and Police peacekeepers including an all-female police unit, RNP is ready to deploy, when called" said CSP Celestin Twahirwa , RNP spokes person.
“Rwanda National Police is founded on visionary leadership and always ready to intervene when it is called to serve and bring about peace in other countries. We have been at the forefront in responding to incidences of gender and domestic violence and it’s RNP’s pleasure to take its expertise to other countries,” CSP Twahirwa said.
This will be the sixth FPU that RNP will be deploying in UN missions, and the First of its kind, whose mandate will focus on resolving gender related issues and escort duties, among others.
RNP currently maintains FPU contingents in Central African Republic (CAR), Haiti and South Sudan.
“Sending a female contingent also falls under the RNP commitment to further implement national and international instruments to involve women in conflict resolution including the UN Security Council resolution 1325,” he added.
The resolution urges all actors to increase the participation of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and incorporate gender perspectives in all UN peace and security efforts.
In 2010, RNP deployed it's female contingent in UN mission in Darfur. Rwanda is currently the leading contributors of female police peacekeepers in UN missions.
The Isange One Stop Centre established in 2009 with the support of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame and One UN-Rwanda to extent free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to victims has been a learning centre for both RNP and regional officers in responding to incidences of gender violence and child abuse.
The centre scooped the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) 2012 for its efforts in fighting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The award dubbed “Promoting Gender Responsive Delivery” of Public Services was in recognition of the success of the Isange. UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
