KIGALI, 19 August 2008: Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of General Staff, General James Kabarebe, signed on to UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign as he officially launched the Gender Desk within the Ministry of Defence on 11 August 2008.
“The Rwanda Defence Force shall not spare any effort in as far as fighting gender-based violence and violence against women is concerned,” said General Kabarebe. “We shall work to enhance the existing partnership with UNIFEM and collaborate with other institutions and organizations to ensure success.”
The Gender Desk, now fully operational with dedicated staff and new equipment, is a component of the RDF’s programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both in Rwanda and within its peacekeeping missions.
At the official launch, the Gender Desk presented a new SGBV training manual and curriculum for RDF schools and academies. The manual will help equip the armed forces to incorporate into their programmes and interventions the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond effectively to SGBV.
“The precedent that the RDF has set is exemplary and honourable,” said Ms. Josephine Odera, UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for Central Africa. “By breaking the silence on GBV that keeps victims cowering in shame and suffering injustice, Rwanda’s armed forces have dealt a mighty blow to a legacy of impunity. We are confident that through the work of a now empowered and equipped Gender Desk, the battle against GBV in our communities will be won.”
Initially established on 16 October 2007 in partnership with UNIFEM with funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Gender Desk is located at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Kigali, to facilitate co-ordination with other relevant military units, and has gender focal points at the battalion level.
Since its inception, the Gender Desk has developed a national sensitization campaign to create awareness within communities on gender equality and women’s human rights in order to fight SGBV. It has conducted training on gender equality concepts, women’s human rights, and SBGV for close to 5,000 military personnel and civilians, in three out of Rwanda’s five provinces. Participants in these trainings have included military officers, military acadmey cadets, ex-combatants, local defence forces, community and opinion leaders, as well as officers preparing for peacekeeping missions. The Gender Desk has trained gender focal points at decentralized (district) levels and supported the formation of anti-GBV clubs. It has also partnered with the leading cellular company in Rwanda, MTN, to provide a free hotline (3945) to report GBV cases concerning the military.
Also present at the launch was DFID Country Representative Sandra Pepera, who commended the RDF for the leadership and initiative they have demonstrated in addressing SGBV. She expressed interest in continued collaboration with UNIFEM and the RDF.
Kilde: UNIFEM
