How drug abuse campaigns in schools are reversing the trend in Western Province

{Rwanda National Police (RNP) says that several campaigns that have for long been going on in schools against crimes, especially abuse of psychotropic substances, are reaping results in terms of youth ownership through community policing.}

According to the police, the impact is measured through several cases reported to police stations as well as youth’s involvement and commitment in sensitizing the public against crime.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Callixte Kalisa, the District Police Commander of Rubavu said that the awareness has enriched the students’ understanding on crime, consequences, their responsibility to fight them and their rights.

“All the 42 schools in the district have formed anti-crime clubs, which are the voice against crimes like drug abuse, gender based violence and child abuse both in their respective schools or in their communities,” said SSP Kalisa.

“Previously, it was common to find students abusing drugs; not that these cases are no longer there but the most majority of those we arrest are not students and actually most successful operations and arrests are facilitated by the youth, who call and inform us about the traffickers and seller,” he added.

The Western Province is the major route for drug traffickers, especially cannabis.

His counterpart of Nyabihu District, Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Fata, said campaigns have broken the silence of students and the young generation in general on violations they face either at home, in communities or at school.

“These campaigns, besides raising the awareness on specific crimes and unlawfulness in general, have as well helped the students to know certain road safety tips in the pursuit to promote road safety standard and usage,” said Supt. Fata.

With regards to children’s rights, part of police campaigns in schools dwell most on educating children about their rights and according to SP Fata, this has steadily broken the culture of silence on corporal punishment in form of disciplining a child, domestic conflicts which affect and cause conflicts among the children as well in terms of supporting either parents.

This week, both districts continued the awareness campaigns in eight separate schools with the major focus on drug abuse, human trafficking, Gender Based Violence and Child Abuse.