The RwandA National Police has joined the "HeForShe” global campaign in a bid to demonstrate commitment to gender equality and push to end gender-based-violence (GBV).

Speaking at the launch of the campaign at the Police headquarters in Kacyiru, on Thursday, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzigwa, said ‘HeForShe’ is founded on the premise that gender equality is an issue that affects all people — socially, economically and politically — and that it seeks to actively involve men and women.

"The movement for gender equality was originally conceived as a struggle for women by women but, today, it is clear that women alone cannot promote gender equality. Men must come on board and support this initiative,” she said.

‘HeForShe’ is a solidarity campaign for gender equality initiated by UN Women, whose goal is to engage men and boys as agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights, by encouraging them to take action against inequalities faced by women and girls.

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, said awareness campaigns should be supplemented with action, whereby men are aware that gender equality is necessary for family welfare and national development.

"Promoting gender equality is a critical component of crime prevention and maintenance of law and order in society. For that reason, RNP intensely reaches out to citizens all over the country to discuss issues related to gender promotion, as well as continuously seeks for opportunities, like ‘HeForShe’, through which national response to gender equality can be improved,” he said.

One UN Women representativce Clara Anyangwe commended Police for its nationwide campaigns against GBV and urged officers to sign up to become ‘HeForShe’ champions.

"Our goal is to engage as many men and boys as possible in this campaign that calls for gender equality. RNP has been a steadfast partner in ensuring that GBV is curbed, while Rwanda is always projected as a case study in equal opportunities,” Anyangwe said.

"President Kagame was the first head of state to recognise ‘HeForShe’ campaign, and we consider him as the role model and a champion for women rights not just in Rwanda but in Africa and the world.”

During the launch, many RNP officers signed up to the campaign.

The Gender and Family Promotion ministry seeks to get at least 100,000 signatures from men in the campaign. 

At the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, UN Women launched the ‘HeForShe’ initiatives titled, "IMPACT 10X10X10”, to build momentum in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.