{Protection of children from all sorts of abuses in not only the role of Rwanda National Police (RNP) but a collective responsibility for parents, leaders, mentors and the children themselves, the Mayor of City of Kigali, Monique Mukaruliza said.
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The mayor was speaking on June 12 as she presided over the official launch of the nationwide annual ‘Police Week,’ held at Kigali Metropolitan Police headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.
The launch under the theme, ‘Stand Up For Child Protection’ came a day after the activities to mark the 16th anniversary of RNP were launched in all other provinces on June 11.
The launch in Kigali started with painting Zebra Crossing, as a sign of promoting road safety, which is also part of this year’s Police Week activities.
It also coincided with the official launch of the toll-free Child-Helpline – 116 that operates in the Rwanda National Police Call Centre in Kacyiru and has the capacity to receive at least 30 calls simultaneously.
“Children are the powerhouse of the country’s development; if there are conflicts in the family, children become the victims and at times these abuses are long term in nature,” Mukaruliza noted.
“Today, we celebrate the Rwanda National Police actionable milestone in the last 16 years, to which we attribute the safety we enjoy today, but it rests in the responsibilities of everyone to fight any form of crime, including child abuse,” she said.
“Children have to be protected from all forms of abuses and given basic necessities like right to education and health.”
The Government, she said, has put in place measures to protect the rights of children including enacting laws, universal education, establishment of the National Commission for Children and feeding programme.
“In the last 16 years, Police has played a significant role in fighting gender based violence, human and drug trafficking, protection of children and enforcement of children enrolment in schools. We need to supplement these efforts as leaders, parents and mentors, get children from the streets and take them to school and fight school dropouts.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana embarked on the effective use of the available police communication channels to report crimes, singling out toll-free lines – 116 for child abuse and 3512 for GBV.
RNP currently runs nine toll-free lines which also include 112 for emergency, 113 (road safety), 111 (fire and rescue), 110 (maritime), 997 (anti-corruption), Isange One Stop Centre (3029 for GBV and Child abuse) and 3511 for Complaint against Police officer.
He noted that the effective and timely use of these communication facilities in information sharing will ultimately contribute to crime prevention.
“This campaign to protect the rights of children is in line with the government programmes and the campaign by the First Lady to ensure that children are protected and their rights observed,” IGP Gasana said.
“Children encounter challenges of peer influence, drug abuse, child labour, forced or influenced school dropout and early pregnancy or parenthood, all which also cause insecurity in one way or another,” he observed.
“Youth volunteers in Community Policing, anti-crime clubs, community policing committees, development partners… all these pave way for sustainable security and fast development.
Respect the law, partner to detect, fight and prevent crimes while protecting the children.”
George Gitau, the National Director of World Vision pledged continued partnership with Rwanda National Police and the country in general to ensure that the rights of children are protected and observed.
The event attended by DIGPs and Police Commissioners, was also graced by heads and representatives from partners including Rwanda Defence Forces, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Gender Monitoring Office, Prosecution, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha, local government officials, executive director Society for Family Health (SFH), Gihana Manasseh and Youth Volunteers in Community Policing (YVCP), among others.
This year’s Police Week was organized in partnership with World Vision, a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.
They also supported RNP in the establishment of the 116 Child-Helpline.
Meanwhile, the Police Week that include ‘Open Day,’ awareness against human trafficking, drug abuse and gender based violence will be climaxed by the Police Day on June 16, the day when the force was created exactly 16 years ago.
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