News

Rwandan Police to Open Centre for Survivors of Violence in Nation’s Capital with Joint Support from UN Agencies

Date: 9 July 2009

Kigali — In an effort to strengthen and deliver support to survivors of child, domestic and gender-based violence, the Rwanda National Police Health Services signed an agreement with the United Nations in Rwanda on 9 July to open a “one-stop centre” of services in Kigali, with joint support from UNIFEM, UNFPA and UNICEF.

“The United Nations is committed to working with Rwanda’s government and civil society to prevent violence, particularly as it affects children and women,” said Mr. Aurelien Agbénonci, the UN’s Resident Coordinator. “We have recently provided assistance to national authorities to put in place a multi-sector response and prevention strategy, and this centre goes one step further to make this strategy a reality by providing comprehensive, timely, affordable and effective services.”

The centre — which will be located in Kigali’s Kacyriu Police Hospital and named Isange (feel welcome and free in Kinyarwanda) — will offer coordinated medical, legal and psycho-social services to violence survivors through trained personnel, in comfortable and confidential surroundings at no cost.

According to a recently conducted baseline study on sexual and gender-based violence, carried out by UNIFEM and the National University of Rwanda in four districts of Rwanda, violence survivors reported that the way police, hospitals and courts are set up does not provide an appropriate atmosphere to report on violence. Statistics from the Rwanda National Police show that there were 2051 cases of child defilement reported in 2008; however, service providers have limited knowledge on how to give appropriate care to women and children survivors of violence.

Although services to address sexual and gender-based violence and even violence against children exist, they are often scattered and inhibit, rather than facilitate, timely and efficient responses. The Isange Centre will have well-trained and qualified staff to provide a variety of services, including: protection from further violence, crime investigation, medical testing and referrals to courts of law as well as treatment for physical and psychological trauma. The Isange Centre will work in close collaboration with the gender desks of the national police and Rwanda Defence Forces, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and civil society organizations.

The "one-stop centre" concept is not new and has been successfully implemented in countries, such as South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Sweden. The services have added tremendous value to survivors of violence.

For more information, please contact Ms. Nora Kokanova, Communication Officer, UNIFEM Central Africa Regional Office, nora.kokanova[at]unifem.org.