Rwanda has prioritised female prisons officers in the country’s quest to modernise the correctional system, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Service, Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije, has said.

Rwarakabije was speaking at the opening of a UN pre-deployment training for female corrections officers destined for peacekeeping missions on Monday.

 The event took place at Rwanda Peace Academy in Musanze.

He said as Rwanda transitioned from a penal system to a correctional system, the institution relied most on women officers to ensure  that inmates are transformed from criminals to responsible citizens.

The two-week training, which brought together female warders from different countries, aims at  addressing challenges encountered during peacekeeping missions.

Billy Gakwaya Uwera, the Commissioner of Rilima correctional centres, Bugesera District, said the training will offer a platform to share experience with other countries.

Lamin Manneh, the UN Resident Coordinator, said the role Rwanda plays in peacekeeping missions across the continent and beyond puts the country in better position to share her experience.

"With its experience in peace keeping missions, coupled with the high level of integrity of its security organs, including corrections services, Rwanda has a lot to share in terms of professionalism, and promotion of human rights during and after conflicts, ” Manneh said.

Participants were drawn from Kenya, Sweden, Finland and hosts Rwanda.