{Residents of Rwezamenyo Sector of Nyarugenge District have been urged to be vibrant and actively join the intensified crime prevention campaigns and be the voice against Human Trafficking, drug abuse, Gender Based Violence and Child Abuse.}
The call was made by Superintendent of Police (SP) Christophe Semuhungu, the Director of anti-narcotics unit in Rwanda National Police, while speaking to over 400 residents, who turned up for the campaign on June 24.
SP Semuhungu reminded residents that common drugs that police have seized in their operations include cannabis and Kanyanga – a crude illicit gin.
“Besides having negative effects on the health of the consumer, drugs are linked to most of the crimes that are reported. We are here to encourage you to report to police anyone who traffics, sell or consumes drugs. If you do so, you will be contributing to public safety and national development,” Supt Semuhungu said.
Inspector of Police Christine Mukamazimpaka spoke at length about the gender based violence and its effects to the victims and the country.
“GBV is a human rights violation that undermines not only the safety, dignity and the overall health status of individuals who experience it, but also have effects that can reach as far as effecting the country’s development. This is why ending GBV is a responsibility for all. We all have to join efforts and means to report and prevent such violence from happening,” she said.
GBV, according to IP Mukamazimpaka, can manifest in different forms, it can be physical, sexual or psychological.
“This form of violence includes threats of different acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. This is why it is vital to promote the rights of all individuals and combat gender-based violence while mitigating its harmful effects on individuals and communities,” said IP Mukamazimpaka.
She singled out domestic violence saying that since it is mostly done in privacy and its effect are severe.
“We still receive cases of domestic violence and child abuse that’s why we continuously encourage you to report it whenever you encounter it,” she said.
With regards to child abuse, IP Mukamazimpaka noted that such kind of abuse poses a serious threat to children’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, particularly if the violence is chronic.
“Children who live with domestic violence are also at increased risk to become direct victims of child abuse,” she said.
She urged residents to exploit RNP toll free lines 112 (emergency, 3512 (GBV) and 116 (child abuse) in case they encounter such cases.
Residents were also tutored on human trafficking, the tricks traffickers use, targeted groups, common destinations and the kind of consequences endured by the victims.
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