Police in Huye District in partnership with the Mental Health Dignity Foundation (MHDF) met with 17 women from families that are marred with domestic disputes and urged them not to cover up any form of abuse directed especially to women and children.
The call was made on May 11 in a meeting held at Ngoma Police Station and drew police officers, representatives of MHDF and 17 women from conflict-ridden families.
The meeting was in the context of understanding the root causes of the conflicts in their families, which will inform the effective means to address them.
Police in the district is also scheduled to meet with their spouses as part of crime prevention and reconciliation process.
Rwanda National Police initiated this reconciliation programme as part of its Community Policing strategy to deter crime.
Addressing the women, the District Community Liaison Officer, Inspector of Police (IP) Mucyo Rukundo said;
“When such wrangles become persistent, they bring about several consequences, including traumatizing children who may end up dropping out of schools, resorting to drug abuse or joining crime rings.”
Inspector of Police (IP) Rose Ndikumana, the head of anti-GBV in Huye District Police Unit (DPU) also emphasised that family misunderstandings normally lead to violence and the effects spill over to children.
“The reason we run this family reconciliation programme is because we want to ensure public safety; addressing cases of gender based violence and child abuse require a bottom-up approach and an involvement of all,” said IP Ndikumana.
The women were also urged not to take the law in their hands, which also makes them criminals, but rather break silence on any injustices they face for the concerned authorities to address them accordingly.
The Executive Coordinator of MHDF, Therese Uwitonze thanked RNP for its continued involvement in reconciling families wrecked by wrangles.
Since 2013, police embarked on reconciling families wrecked by misunderstandings and has since reunited hundreds of couples who testify that they are currently living happily.
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