MUSANZE- Senior Police officers from various African countries, yesterday, ended a training of trainers program on investigation and prevention of sexual and gender-based crimes, with a call on governments to cooperate to stem out the vice.

The second-phase of the program, organised by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, UN Police Section, brought together officers from 13 French speaking countries.

The training of police officers from 35 French and English speaking countries took place at the Rwanda Peace Academy, Nyakinama, Musanze District.

At the end of the training, participants called for collaboration from governments, civil society organisations and police in investigating and addressing gender based crimes.

"We are all aware that conflicts bring about various crimes, especially GBV.  I have gained more knowledge on the nature, and all forms of violence against vulnerable groups,” said Ngale Nalova Josephine, from Cameroon.

"I want to commend the Rwandan people for having the resilience to move forward despite what happened here, there was mass rape, but we have seen progress.’’  

Kavin Brennan, who conducted the course, hailed Rwanda’s post Genocide reconciliation drive describing it as a ‘lesson’ to showcase to the world.

Ambassador Jackline Mukangira, the head of Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who presided over the closing ceremony, thanked the United Nations for selecting Rwanda to host the course.

The course focused on the dynamics of sexual and GBV, UN resolutions, mass rape and Genocide, and investigations in gender-based crimes in conflict and post-conflict countries.

Ends