Catholic Church joins anti-GBV fight

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Justice and the Catholic Church have entered a partnership to strengthen the campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV).The partnership comes one year to the end of a Catholic Church project, which started in 2010, to sensitise the public against GBV, identify and counsel victims and help them access justice and health services.The three-year programme funded by the European Union, through CARITAS international, also meets health insurance costs of the victims and offers legal services.Rwanda is considered one of the countries that have registered tremendous success in fighting GBV. Police have also decentralised gender desks to the Sector level. Bishop Servilien Nzakamwita, the president of the commission, observed that despite the achievements realised, challenges still remained which need to be addressed immediately. “There are people who have no knowledge on the law that penalises GBV offenders while others don’t know where to seek help,” Nzakamwita said when officially opening the meeting at the police headquarters in Kacyiru.He noted that some victims don’t get the necessary services on time and that culprits don’t face the hand of justice accordingly and castigated medical officers for not sharing the results with GBV victims.“GBV offenders are protected by some civil servants who at times help them escape. There is also corruption at various levels,” he observed.He pledged the commission’s support to further combat the GBV crimes in Rwanda.“GBV crimes still exist and we are committed to advocate for victims’ rights in order for justice to be served,” he said.The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, commended the commission for their partnership “to effectively combat the vice, at a time when some people think they are not part of the campaign”.He appealed to everyone to be responsible and join the campaign against GBV.The meeting was also attended by District Community Policing Liaison Officers and police officers in charge of fighting GBV. The UN Security Council requires member states to implement its resolution 1325/2000, aimed at protecting women and girls during and after armed conflicts, and to fully involve females in conflict prevention, management and resolution, peace building and reconciliation.