Police have said preparations to institute a 140-strong all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to be deployed in UN peacekeeping operations are in "high gear.”

The announcement follows Monday’s pledge made by President Paul Kagame, and Commander-in-Chief of Defence and Security Forces, during the UN Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping Operations to deploy an extra military and Police peacekeepers, including an all-female police unit.

"Police is ready to deploy, when called upon to serve,” said CSP Celestin Twahirwa, the Police spokes person.

In a statement, yesterday, CSP Twahirwa noted that Rwanda National Police (RNP) is founded on visionary leadership and is always ready to intervene when it is called to serve and bring about peace in other countries."We have been at the forefront in responding to gender and domestic violence and its RNP’s pleasure to take its expertise to other countries,” he said.

This will be the sixth FPU that RNP will be deploying to UN missions, and the first of its kind, whose mandate will focus on resolving gender related issues and escort duties, among others.

Police currently maintains FPU contingents in Central African Republic (CAR), Haiti and South Sudan.

"Sending a female contingent also falls under the RNP’s commitment to further implement national and international instruments to involve women in conflict resolution, including the UN Security Council resolution 1325,” CSP Twahirwa added.

In 2010, RNP deployed it’s first female contingent to the UN mission in Darfur. Rwanda is currently the leading contributor of female police peacekeepers in UN missions.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw