Rwanda National Police

Residents of the Southern Province have been called upon to stand up against gender based violence and drugs abuse that still affect the region.

While speaking during the official launch of the ongoing awareness campaign against GBV in the province on December 29, Supt Jules Rutayisire, Huye District Police Commander (DPC) noted that although issues related to gender and domestic violence have gone down, the rapid fight is still hampered by the consumption of illicit brew and narcotics.

“Most gender-related issues we receive are fueled by drug abuse where spouses consume illicit brew and batter their wives when they get back home; drugs have also lured the youth into dropping out of schools and committing crimes like theft, rape and defilement,” Supt. Rutayisire observed.

“We have registered success in fighting GBV and drug abuse, but there is still some gap in the public’s participation to effectively combat these issues and improve security in communities,” he added.

He also reminded hundreds of participants drawn from the seven districts in the Southern Province to spearhead the awareness against human trafficking so as to make the youth, the most targeted, understand the dangers associated and the tricks such as better offers, traffickers use.

He urged them to own the campaign by reporting people involved in these illegal acts and families that could be embroiled in domestic conflicts so that they are reconciled or advised on other channels to solve their grievances.

The force also conducts community activities identifying and reconciling couples that have domestic conflicts.

“Consumption and selling of illicit drugs is illegal and punishable by the law and whoever will be caught will face justice as stipulated,” he warned.

He advised the participants to always report any suspected person involved in such illegal acts and warned them against keeping those who commit the crimes saying that it would be a double crime

The nationwide awareness campaign conducted by Rwanda National Police in partnership with Global Fund, targets, mainly, the youth, women, Community Policing Committee, community health workers, local leaders charged with gender-related issues and District Community liaison officers among others, and seek to increase community understanding on crime and GBV prevention in particular.

With so far ant-GBV clinics called Isange One Stop Centre established in eleven district hospitals, the force through its Department of Medical Services (DMS), targets 23 centres by the end of 2015 and consequently to all hospitals by 2017.

Isange provides free medical, psycho-socio and legal services to GBV victims.

Meanwhile the “Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center” for drug addicts is set to start next year.