Experts discuss handling GBV evidence in courts

Handling evidence remains a key challenge in the prosecution of cases related to Gender Based Violence (GBV), officials have said. The observation was made at a dialogue held in Kigali yesterday. Because of lack of evidence, even straight-forward cases are lost in courts of law, the officials said. They called upon concerned authorities to properly handle evidence to ensure justice. Supt. Belline Mukamana, the head GBV desk and child protection at Rwanda National Police (RNP), said preserving evidence is a responsibility of the entire community. “Everyone in the community – doctors, neighbours, friends and others – are obliged to help provide and conserve evidence,” she said. Crimes are reported very late and evidence, in most cases, is lost, destroyed, gets expired or is simply forgotten, she added. “Victims quite often refuse to facilitate investigators due to pressure from family and friends to abandon a case,” Mukamana said. There are also cases where the problem of interpretation of medical experts’ reports surfaces. The way forward, she suggested, should include raising awareness on preservation of evidence and encouraging the public to report cases timely. Dr Rubanzana (left) and Habyarimana at the meeting in Kigali yesterday.(Timothy Kisambira) Angélique Habyarimana, an inspector at the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), said GBV can be emotional, economic, psychological and sexual and that everyone can be a victim. Giving details on how lack of evidence has hampered their work, Habyarimana said at least 438 out of 1,195 cases submitted to court by NPPA in 2010 were dropped because of lack of evidence. The NPPA has considered measures, including training for investigators and prosecutors related to handling of such crimes, study tours in other countries to learn best practices, and media campaigns to sensitise the public about the law relating to gender-based violence. It has also provided the public with toll free lines; 3677 (Police GBV Unit) and 3935 (NPPA) to report cases. Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Wilson Rubanzana, a forensic expert, cited shortage of forensic medical experts as one of the challenges that should be addressed. “Another serious issue is the absence of pre-trial consultations and expert testimonies in courts of law,” said Dr Rubanzana.

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Experts discuss handling GBV evidence in courts