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The ISANGE One Stop Centre (IOSC) for victims of Gender based Violence and child abuse model started in July 2009 at Kacyiru Police Hospital (KPH) as a pilot project.
It is a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary Programme aimed at providing holistic and comprehensive care and support ranging from psycho-socio, medical and legal and Police services to adult and child survivors of gender based violence and child abuse occurring in the family and communities at large.
Kacyiru Police Hospital is the only one in Rwanda with forensic department and forensic specialists . The IOSC is accessed by men, women, children, nationals and non nationals and offers a comprehensive package of services that are much needed as an effort to prevent and curb SGBV and child abuse.
Through advocacy and networking with Global Fund, the First Lady Madam Jeannette Kagame was able to put in infrastructures at KPH covering different suitable services for women like Women pavilion (maternity ward), project to support women empowerment, department for services that protect mother to child HIV transmission and IOSC meant to give holistic care to SGBV and child abuse victims.
The IOSC model has provisions for emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, Sexual Transmission Infections (STI) prevention and other medications. It provides free referral and specialized services like medico-legal, gynecology and obstetrics, mental health, legal and investigation, psychosocial, safe room and social integration services.
Survivors, who stay in the safe room, receive basic services like feeding, clothing and shelter. The impact of Isange can therefore be easily noticed, with the centre currently receiving approximately six cases daily. Isange has so far received about 7, 000 cases related to SGBV since its establishment. 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.
Quick service delivery and the level of reporting increased tremendously, an indication that the public, especially women, girls and children are much informed about their rights services rendered. It has also become a learning centre for university students –interns – as part of their bachelors’ degree and also a guide to regional countries and Police forces in particular on how to combat SGBV.
The IOSC also boosts of the Multi-disciplinary Investigative and Intervention Team (MDIIT) model and adapts evidence-based, international best practice protocols for working with victims of gender based violence and child abuse.
Each IOSC staff has been trained in the MDIIT model either through a formal education programme or on-the–job. The MDIIT model has aided the range of staff to work together with the highest level of collaboration.
Following a successful piloting of the Isange One Stop Centre Model in Rwanda (2009-2013), the country is now embarking on a fully-fledged national scale up of the above model in health facilities across the country.
The IOSC, therefore, strives to ensure the best possible prevention and response of victims of gender based violence and child abuse, including refugees. In addition, it is widely recognised that quality services, conviction of perpetrators and sustained community awareness-raising help build the resilience of victims and their families including prevention of future violence and abuse.
The development of the Isange OSC scale-up joint programme has been a highly participatory exercise and involved consultations at various strategic and technical levels of the Government of Rwanda, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda and the One-UN-Rwanda. It is being implemented as a joint programme involving relevant government institutions, namely; the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Rwanda National Police and the One UN Rwanda. Other potential partners will be engaged with the view to securing their participation in the initiative. This programme is in line with the Government’s Seven-Year programme (2010– 2017) which pledges to establish IOSC in every health center in Rwanda; the second generation Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2); the National Policy on fighting GBV (2010) and its Strategic Plan and the One UN Development Assistance Plan - 2013-2018.
The scale-up program was officially launched by H.E the First Lady Madam Janet Kagame in Nyagatare district, in March 2014.
In line with the above context, the Rwanda National Police in partnership with the Ministry of family and Gender promotion, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice has organised a nationwide anti-GBV campaign to sensitise and enhance the community’s prevention and response to GBV and child abuse.
The campaign will be held across the country and the official launch will be held on August 25, 2014 at “Ubworoherane stadium” in Musanze district starting at 10:00 am.
