Chad to borrow a leaf from Rwanda on GBV prevention

Over 10 delegates from Chad yesterday visited various Gender Based Violence (GBV) departments in the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to learn how the country has managed to deal with the crime which has reduced by about 60 percent in the past two years. The visitors from Chadian civil society organizations, who are on a two-week tour, visited the GBV desk in the force where they were explained how it functions and how it has helped victims and bringing criminals to justice. IP Belline Mukamana, the head of Anti-GBV desk at RNP, explained to the delegates how the desk operates and its impact on the Rwandan community saying that to effectively combat the crime, GBV offices were also established at all police units across the country. The delegates also visited ISANGE One-Stop Centre at Kacyiru Police Hospital which was established last year to cater for victims of child, domestic and gender based violence, where they toured the children and counseling centre. The hospital Director, ACP Daniel Nyamwasa, said that since its inception 13 months ago, the centre has received 1,427 GBV cases, 95 percent of the victims being female. He added that 56 percent of the female GBV victims are children below 15 years. Clarisse Nailar Nehoudamadji, the head of the delegation, commended Rwanda’s effort in dealing with GBV. She observed that despite the country having passed through political turmoil, it has initiated bold programmes to help women. “Rwanda set an example for all other African countries. Such anti-GBV programmes the country initiated should open eyes of other countries on how to deal with such crimes,” Nehoudamadji said. Chad is one of the African countries where GBV is said to be still high.The delegation will also visit the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and some women advocacy associations. They have so far visited PRO-FEMME Twese Hamwe, the umbrella of women associations in the country, and the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO). Ends