Directorate of Gender Promotion
Rwanda National Police was established on the 16th June 2000 Rwanda National Police was established on the 16th June 2000 after merging three different institutions with identical and interdependent duties. These were; the Judicial Police under the Ministry of Justice, Communal Police under the Ministry of Internal security and the Gendarmerie under the Ministry of Defense. There were very few women (53) willing to participate in the post genocide Police.
This necessitated increased sensitization of women to join the Police. In 2001 only 20 women joined because there were still cultural constraints and women feeling of security being men’s duty. As time went on and due to increased public awareness campaigns encouraging capable women to join, the numbers of new entrants started to increase. Currently 19% of the total strength are women.
However, the aim of the Police management is to have 30% and beyond. Therefore, as a department charged with gender mainstreaming, we still have a long way to go but this we shall achieve in partnership with our stakeholders for instance MIGEFROFE, UN Agencies, local NGOs and sister institutions that uphold the principle of gender equity
With a mission of having capable and smart women in policing that will add value to the National Police as a professional institution, the department has an ultimate objective of fully engaging in policing and develop it as a career that potentially benefits the Police and Rwandans in general.
To this end therefore, the department sets strategies and policies that endeavor to uplift Police women especially in career advancement, prepare and organize meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences and forums which enhance networking, information sharing in GBV and specific crime reduction on women and children.
The liaison functions include coordination with police partners in issues concerning gender promotion and eradication of gender based violence as well as with regional and international law enforcement organizations, UN agencies and NGO’s that uphold the principle of gender equality and development.
Structure
The directorate of Gender promotion has three divisions; the division for Administration, Internal and External relations the division for coordination of RNP Network activities and the division for prevention and handling of Gender Based Violence.
National Policies and initiatives on gender promotion which have acted as guidelines in achieving our mission are; The Rwanda Vision2020, EDPRS-Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy, Ministry of Family and Gender promotion, National Gender Policy 2004, National Gender Strategic Plan and Gender monitoring office. Others are; Gender Focal Points and National Council for Women
Establishment of RNP Women Network
Within the Programme for Democratic Policing (PDP) project, that was sponsored by SIDA under the Tripartite Cooperation between
Swedish National Police Board (SNPB), South African Police Service (SAPS) and Rwanda National Police (RNP) and after a Steering Committee Meeting held in Pretoria in 2006 accepting to enhance the capacities of Rwanda women Police, RNP Women Network was established in July 2007. After one year of operation it was officially launched in October 2008 in conjunction with our stakeholders.
Amidst its establishment, UNDP has been the sole sponsor of different initiatives the network has achieved through the programme for strengthening the capacities of RNP for increased Human Rights and Law enforcement since 2008.
The Network in conjunction with the National Police duties as has the objectives of; enhancing, add value and promote RNP Strategic objectives, promote the image of RNP, its mandate and service imperatives, serve as a part of transformation, motivational structure which increases awareness and contribute to changing attitudes and stereotypes on gender issues and establish an active working relationship with identified stakeholders.
Others are facilitating career development of women through different training programmes for better service delivery and achieving RNP objectives of specific crime reduction especially SGV, helping to analyze the recruitment of more and capable women in order to promote gender equality and forging a bond between police women to support, share information, best job practices and life experiences.
It also aligns Women Network activities with to the government initiatives with the view of improving the overall quality of the lives of women as well as advocating a “Men for Change” programme that will support in addressing gender issues in reverse supporting women police to combat crime.
Activities
The department has so far carried out such activities as; Public awareness
Sensitization - Capacity building for the women police as well as “Men for change”
- Initiate career development programs to enhance women capabilities
- To arrange for internal and external study tours to gain experience and confidence building for the women police
- Carrying out sensitization programs on gender respective and gender main streaming in both the police and the community especially women and youth
- To enhance the participation of the police women in peacekeeping mission (training on SGBV, handling and sharing of mission experience)
- Public awareness programs on both the police and the police and the community on the role of the police in the SGBV Prevention and handling (TV, Radio, newspapers, brochures etc…)
- To initiate strategies on gender mainstreaming in RNP
- To promote discussion between men and women in the role of peace building and security.
