UN pledges support in fight against Gender Based Violence

The United Nations has pledged its partnership and support towards Rwanda’s fight to end violence against women and girls. One UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator, Lamin Momodou Manneh, yesterday noted that he was already impressed with the efficiency and dedication of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the authorities in combating violence against women and girls. He, however, said although there is a lot of commitment and considerable progress from Rwanda, there are still challenges which call for more action. Manneh was speaking at a planning meeting of Command Post Exercise dubbed ‘Africa UNiTE’, a campaign to end violence against women and girls, at RNP headquarters in Kigali. He also observed that African security organs have taken concrete steps and made impressive progress in fighting violence among women and girls, stressing that Africa must end its own problems. “Africa must indeed end Africa’s problems in its own innovative ways. Africa should demonstrate their commitment and ownership to solving its own problems such as violence against women,” he said. Lamin said a lot of women are suffering as a result of violence and called upon security organs to intensify efforts in fighting the vice. He also commended Rwanda for the One Stop centres in different places across the country, that have helped handle and help victims of violence. Plans are underway to scale up the number of the One Stop centres across Rwanda in all districts in order to curb violence against women and girls. Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, the Chief of Defence Staff, noted that security organs have a vital role to play in fighting violence against women and girls, therefore calling upon them to play their part. “Our countries should also take pride in finding home grown solutions to ending violence against women and girls since we live in a gender friendly environment as well,” he said. He called for focused remedies and strategies to be implemented in order to end violence against women and girls. About 69 per cent of the GBV victims received at the Kacyiru Police Hospital-based Isange One Stop Centre are women, according to the latest figures. At least 5,216 GBV cases have so far been registered at the centre since July, 2009.