A joint team of officials from the Gender Monitoring Office (GMP), Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), among others has started field visits to assess the implementation of practices that promote gender equality and barriers hindering fast progress towards full realisation of women rights in Rwanda.

The joint monitoring team headed by the Chief Gender Monitor, Rose Rwabuhihi, started its field assessment in Kirehe District yesterday, where they held a meeting with local leaders, security organs in the district, including gender focal points, health workers and officials from the National Women Council, among others.

The RNP team include ACP Morris Murigo, the deputy Commissioner for CID, Supt. Pelagie Dusabe, Director Gender Promotion and Supt. Shafiga Murebwayire, the Director of Isange One Stop Centre.

According to Supt. Murebwayire, the two-day field visit in Kirehe will also assess the extent to which initiatives to fight gender based violence are paying off and the quality of services extended to victims of GBV.

"We will assess services offered at Kirehe Isange One Stop Centre and GBV prevention and response mechanisms in Mahama refugee camp,” said Supt. Murebwayire.

"This is intended to promote accountability and timely response to GBV issues at the decentralised levels and document good practices in service delivery to victims of GBV and strategies promoting full inclusion of men and women in development,” she added.

She explained that this will "recommit local leaders to accelerate realisation of gender equality and eradication of GBV, devise means to address gender violence issues in Mahama camp and other barriers impacting on gender equality.”

They will also look at how effective the established Isange in Kirehe Hospital can respond to the available GBV issues in the district and in Mahama camp in particular, which hosts refugees from Burundi.

Isange translated as feel at home, offers free medical, legal and psychological services to victims of GBV and child abuse, and has been credited and given UN award for its impact in addressing GBV issues.

So far, Isange has been established in seventeen district hospitals across the country under the scale-up programme intended to be established in all 44 district hospitals.

The government of Rwanda, in 2003, adopted numerous policies, strategies and programmes designed to improve gender equality and eradicate social barriers, thus adopting the "zero-tolerance policy on GBV.”

Gender based violence is said to be one of the threats to the realisation of gender equality.

The vice is said also to be caused by gender inequality, ignorance, male chauvinism, drug abuse and property conflicts, among others.

The first Isange One stop centre situated at Kacyiru Police Hospital, has for example received about 10, 000 cases, majority elated to gender and child abuse.

It is believed that there are still many women and children facing these challenges and the outreach programmes and awareness are meant to enlighten residents on their rights, open up and report challenges they face in their homes and communities to ensure that justice is served.