{Hundreds of residents in Musanze District gathered in Busogo Sector on December 22 to listen to varied messages meant to raise awareness against gender based violence as the recently launched Rwanda National Police ‘Isange Mobile Clinic’ started the countrywide tour.}
The Isange Mobile Clinic treks the countryside receiving complaints related to GBV, and uses the opportunity to raise awareness against the vice, a team of investigators and medical staff help victims or direct them to the appropriate authority to help.
During the event, residents expressed gratitude to Rwanda National Police for bringing them together to discuss issues affecting them and to show them better ways to prevent or address them.
A 40-year old Anonciata Niyibizi, a resident of Kabaya Cell in Busogo said such discussions enlighten the public on their role in community policing and their rights especially women and children whose rights are abused and undermined.
“I always hear about gender based violence on radios. It’s a good that today you have detailed to us what this means and the consequences associated with it to our families and communities,” Niyibizi said, calling upon residents not to keep silent about GBV.
Gervais Nsangwayimana, another resident admitted he had limited knowledge on the true meaning of GBV.
“There are some things I always do to my wife like marital rape, without apparent knowledge that I am committing an offence,” said Nsangwayimana.
He requested that such meeting be conducted on a regular basis so that other residents can benefit and exchange ideas on dealing with such incidences.
Residents also lined up on Isange Mobile Clinic to report injustices they face, to officers in the fully-fledged mobile office van.
According to Inspector of Police (IP) Angelique Mukamwezi from the RNP Gender Desk, at least 20 people, majority women filed cases at the mobile office van, majority related to property disputes and assault.
She said that majority of the cases have been channelled to concerned authorities to address them.
While addressing the residents, IP Mukamwezi said that GBV is a “serious security threat that undermines basic human rights.”
She called upon residents to have a shared responsibility in preventing GBV and other crimes by availing quick information on anyone suspected to be involved in the vice.
Edison Tuyubahe, who is in charge of social affairs in Busogo Sector, hailed Rwanda National Police for being on the forefront to address GBV and empowering the people to take up the policing mantle.
He asked residents of Busogo to further partner with Police and other concerned authorities to ensure that GBV and other crimes are addressed jointly.
The Isange Mobile Clinic is one of the RNP mobile service meant for quick service delivery in policing.
Currently, RNP also boosts of the Mobile Police Station which also sweeps remote areas conducting awareness and also recording people’s grievances for quick action.
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