{The standard operation manual of Isange One Stop Centres was launched on December 9 as institutions charged with the activities of the centre in fighting gender based violence and child abuse, moved to replicate and improve the services in all Isanges across the country.}
The manual was launched in an event held at the regional Centre of Excellence on GBV and Child abuse in Kacyiru, and presided over by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi.
It was also attended by representatives from hospitals that host Isange and police officers operating in the centres, prosecutors, and other partners in the fight against GBV and child abuse.
The manual outlines uniformity of specific services and procedures offered at all Isange centres.
The PS noted that Gender based violence and child abuse is a “crime that violates human rights, have impact on national security and social economic development of our country.”
“GBV and child abuse are serious crimes, even if it is done for or by one person. Beating or sexually assaulting someone affects them psychologically and at times these are lifetime effects. It is not the question of how many have been abuse; it is the question of the weight even a single case carries to humanity,” she said.
“So, it’s very important to put in place different services and strategies so that victims receive quality psychological, medico-legal holistically in a uniform manner across the country,” she noted.
Isange One Stop Centre started in 2009 in Kacyiru as a pilot project, to bring together all players including the ministries of Gender and Family Promotion, Justice and Health, and RNP, as a multi-sectoral approach to provide free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to the victims of GBV and child abuse that would otherwise face challenges to access such services due to their varied vulnerability.
Isange also provides medical expertise in police investigations. Currently, there are 28 Isange centres across the country.
According to Supt. Shafiga Murebwayire, the coordinator of Isange One Stop Centres, the scale up of the centre to district hospitals was facing a challenge of ensuring uniformity in services offered.
“So it was very important to have a common approach so that victims across the country receive similar services,” Supt. Murebwayire said.
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