{A Training of Trainers (ToT) for Anti-Gender Based Violence and Child Abuse committee members, representatives from civil society and local leaders started on December 14 in Ruhango District, to get a common approach in the fight against gender based violence and child abuse.}
Participants also include representatives from the faith-based organizations, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and medical personnel.
While officially opening the training, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in Ruhango, Annonciata Kambayire said that issues related to child abuse are still relatively high and need special attention, noting that such training further provides ways and means to press on against such human rights violations.
“Such trainings add value to the existing knowledge, skills and available resources at our disposal for prevention and quick response to victims of child abuse; ensuring timely response, offering legal, medical and psychological assistance to the victims,” she said.
Kambayire challenged participants to actively partner with role players in the district and other government Institutions in protecting and promoting the rights of the vulnerable groups and provide information of those involved in committing gender related crimes in communities.
During the three-day training, participants are expected cover key areas like child rights and protection, sexual and gender based violence and criminal procedures among others.
The District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Ruhango, Inspector of Police (IP) Angelique Abijuru noted that crimes related to GBV and Child Abuse still count among the high impact crimes in the district, and that they affect households, and community safety and development.
“Cases of homicide, GBV have over time reduced but still Rwanda National Police has embarked on a holistic approach of raising awareness deal with the root cause,” said IP Abijuru.
She further pointed to defilement, sexual harassment to children and adults, property wrangles, and rape as some of the GBV and child abuse common in Ruhango.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with other policing partners are currently scaling up Isange One Stop Center to all district hospitals across the country to extend the free psychosocial, medical, and legal services to victims of GBV and child abuse countrywide.
There are at least 28 Isange One Stop Centres countrywide currently.
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