WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI – Thirty female and male police officers drawn from different district police units (DPU’s) in Western Province are undergoing training on how to stem Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The five-day training code named ‘Men for change’ was organised by the Rwanda National Police Women Network (RNPWN) to train participants on how to detect sexual abuse and exploitation. The training is also focused on investigating and caring GBV victims.

Opening the training at Hotel Golf Eden Rock on Monday, the district Mayor, Bernard Kayumba reminded female police officers to always work with confidence during the course of doing their work.

He said they should move at the same pace with their male counterparts since the government is striving to promote gender balance in all public institutions.

"Women in national police constitute 11% of the force level. This percentage is still low but at the same time it is a tremendous step you have taken those at the helm of RNPWN,” he said. 

Supt. Anonciata Mukahigiro, the coordinator of RNPWN, said in a separate interview that the workshop would transform the minds of Rwandan girls who join police.

"We intend to train Rwandan female police officers on how they can be up lifted in different fields. We also urge them to avoid the misconception that police or army is only the preserve for males,” she said.

The Western Province Regional Police commander, Chief Supt. Gilbert Gumira Rwampungu who spoke on behalf of the acting Commissioner General of Police, asked participants to also discuss issues related to their routine field activities.

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