Rwanda: Police And Unifem in Fight Against Sexual Gender Based Violence

The New Times (Kigali)

30 September 2008
Posted to the web 30 September 2008

Joseph Mudingu
Kigali

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) together with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) over the week launched a joint advocacy against child abuse and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) at the Police Headquarters in Kacyiru.

Despite a heavy thunderstorm at the beginning of the function, eight schools from Kigali went on to perform in a live drama competition about GBV.

During the official opening ceremony, the Minister of Education, Daphrose Gahakwa said that the police has done a commendable job of ensuring that there is peace in the country and stressed the need of fighting SGBV.

"We can not focus on development if we have gender based violence. So, I commend this move by the police and UNIFEM in getting seriously involved in fighting it," she said. She also thanked UNIFEM for their continued financial support to the police in fighting against the menace.

"Without this support, the police would not have registered so much success and we should continue working together to scale up the fight," Gahakwa advised.

UNIFEM donated a brand new four wheel drive Toyota Hilux, two Compaq laptops and an Hp printer to the National Police department that deals with Gender Based Violence.

The National Programme Officer UNIFEM, Donnah Kamashazi, said that they were proud of partnering with the police in the fight against SGBV and that they have created public awareness through schools and the progress is being followed up.

"Violence against women and girls fractures development and destroys life. So we congratulate the national police and all others involved in taking this fight against SGBV seriously," Kamashazi said.

At the same function, the acting Commissioner General of Police, Mary Gahonzire on behalf of the RNP thanked UNIFEM for the financial and technical support which has helped in fighting gender based violence.

"Sexual gender based violence greatly undermines human resource management, health peace building and justice. So we are appreciative for UNIFEM's financial and technical support in fighting it," Gahozire said.

She also recognized the role played by the government and the Ministry of Gender, the Justice sector, schools, Local Government on Community Policing and all others involved in preventing gender based violence.

Eight schools from around Kigali were awarded trophies for coming up with outstanding performance in the SGBV competition and treated the audience to rib-breaking drama.

Though all the schools performed extremely well, Lycee Notre Dame which emerged the best followed by Kagarama Senior Secondary, Saint André came third while Riviera high school was eighth.

Others that were involved in the competition were Lycee de Kigali, Essa Nyarugunga, Fawe girl's school and Solidarity academy.


The occasion was also attended by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya and representatives from various NGOs.