{{The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana has challenged female Police officers to continue the spirit of professionalism and desist from anything that might tint their good image portrayed in and outside the country.}}
The Minister made the call on March 24 while presiding over this year’s ‘Police Women Convention’ held at the Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA) in Kigali.
The 5th convention was held under the theme: “Empowerment of Female Police Officers for Sustainable Development.”
The annual event brings together female Police officers to deliberate on how to solve issues affecting them in their day-to-day duties.
“There is time when women had no say and were not valued in Rwanda. For the last 20 years of good leadership, women have regained their dignity at all levels including in the force, where you have shown competence in rebuilding your country,” Minister Harelimana told over 1, 200 female officers, who represented others in this annual event.
He thanked them for keeping a ‘clean criminal record’ in the force and urged them to be “an eye for their country and a mirror for the citizens.”
The most majority of Police officers caught in illegal acts are male, the Minister observed.
He thanked the force for empowering and promoting gender equality in the force.
Currently, female officers comprise of about 20 per cent of the total force, up from 14 per two years ago. The RNP targets to achieve the minimum 30 percent of female officers as per the government policy, by 2016.
He further urged female officers to spearhead the implementation of government policies like ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’ and practice family planning to give birth to children they are able to give basic needs.
The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana said the force is on course in implementing gender-related policies including fighting gender-related crimes.
IGP Gasana said there is gender participation and empowerment at all levels, women officers are allowed to operate in areas of their families and given priority in peacekeeping missions.
He thanked One-UN-Rwanda and other institutions for their continued support especially in the field of gender.
Lamin M. Manneh, the One UN-Rwanda Resident Coordinator thanked RNP for putting gender empowerment at the forefront and lauded the role played by female officers in peacekeeping.
Mr. Manneh singled out Isange One Stop centre, which provides free medical, psychological and legal services to gender violence victims, as one of the force’s success stories and a learning centre to the rest of the continent.
The centre which operates under Kacyiru Police Hospital scooped the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) in 2012 for its efforts in fighting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
Inspector of Police Vivian Umulisa said this annual meeting guides them to perfection in their Policing tasks since it addresses obstacles that affects them.
“In this convention, we exchange ideas on how to improve on services, advise each other on various female-related issues. It makes us more proud to be police officers and to be an example in our communities and to other females who will join the force,” Umulisa said.
RNP
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