The Rwanda National Police countrywide campaign to fight and prevent Gender Based Violence and child abuse has this Thursday continued in Ngororero District in the Western Province. The national campaign was officially launched on August 25, in Musanze. It is conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Justice, the Netherland Embassy in Rwanda and the One UN Rwanda. While addressing hundreds of campaigners, Caritas Mukandasira, the Western Province Governor noted that, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and child abuse is a country’s major concern since it deprives people of their basic rights. According to Mukandasira, her province, over the last eight months recorded 45 cases of defilement, 19 cases of rape and 71 cases of people that were physically attacked by their spouses. She noted that, GBV has a variety of negative effects not only to victims but also to families and the entire country. She pointed out to HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies as some of the major effects of GBV. Commissioner of Police (CP), Emmanuel Butera, the Commissioner for Operations in Rwanda National Police, said the force remains committed to fight and prevent GBV; a vice he noted is among three common crimes committed in the country. Butera commended partners who have found it necessary and joined hands with RNP to further prevent the vice. He also called for closer cooperation from bar owners castigating those that serve alcoholic beverages to children under the age of 18.
