General Studies and Communication Skills

Examine the efficiency of community-based initiatives set up to address GBV in your district.

Community-based initiatives to address GBV are an important approach to prevent and respond to issues relating to GBV. Anti-GBV and Child Protection Committees exist at the Umudugudu, Cell, Sector and District levels. They are meant to raise awareness, gather information and coordinate GBV response services for victims. They also identify vulnerable children and families and provide support services. The committees address GBV issues and protect children’s rights Monthly community gatherings are also used to discuss Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and to make public any such cases. Neighbours may report instances of violence on behalf of victims who are unable to report. The police also participate in Umuganda community gatherings and work with Community Policing Committees and Neighbourhood Watch Programmes to address GBV related issues. In addition, they conduct media and community based awareness campaigns about GBV.

Community-policing committees have been established to respond to GBV at every Umudugudu. They help to put to an end to culture of silence and encourage people to approach affected families instead of waiting for victims to report, which they may not be able to do. Anti-GBV clubs exist in schools to empower the youth in the fight against gender-based violence. There also exist formal structures at the cell, sector, district and national levels called Children’s Forums where children are able to share their experiences related to GBV and child abuse.

1. Conduct research on the work of the Inshuti Z’umuryango (Friends of a family) a government initiative and Tubarerere Mu Muryango Programme (let us raise children in families) a community-based initiative.

2. Find out whether such initiatives operate in your district.

3. How do the programme’s social workers assist in the protection of children from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect?

4. In your own opinion, have the programmes been eff ective in dealing with GBV and child abuse?

5. Are there better solutions or initiatives that can help eradicate GBV and child abuse in Rwanda?

6. Examine the efforts of Anti-GBV clubs in schools in the fight against GBV in Rwanda.

One-Stop Centres (OSC), launched in 2009, serve as referral centres for victims of GBV and child abuse. This is where victims of GBV and child abuse receive several free services such as; medical care, psychosocial and legal support, prosecution of GBV and police support in the form of collection of forensic evidence where necessary. The centres operate a 24-hour phone hotline, as well as short-term emergency accommodation for victims who are afraid to return home or need intensive support and time to heal psychologically.

                        

Gender Desks at the Rwanda Police stations have trained staff that sensitise the population about the prevention, response and fight against gender-based violence. Victims or witnesses of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) may call the Gender Desk through a toll-free hotline to report cases or seek help. The Gender Desks investigate gender-based violence cases, counsel and assist victims to access health, legal and psycho-social support services. The police stations in Rwanda work closely with health institutions to facilitate access to medical services for victims of GBV.

                          

With the help of your teacher, organise a class visit to the nearest Gender Desk, One-Stop Centre or Anti-GBV committee. Find out about the activities they carry out in the fight against GBV. Ask what services they provide to the community and what challenges they face as they carry out their work. Enquire about the achievements that have been realised from their efforts. Write a report after the visit.

Rwanda is party to international treaties that require it to provide eff ective protection and support for victims of gender-based violence. There are several important regional commitments to GBV, including the Maputo Protocol (2003), the ICGLR Protocol (2006) and The Goma Declaration (2008).

Also known as the Maputo Protocol, guarantees comprehensive rights to women. Th is includes the right to take part in political processes, social and political equality, control of their reproductive health and to put an end to female genital mutilation (FGM).

Th e ICGLR Protocol of 2006, provides protection for women and children against impunity of sexual violence in the Great Lakes region. It has established a legal framework for prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of crimes of sexual violence in the region. Th e member states are required to provide legal, medical, material and social assistance, including counselling and compensation, to women and children who are victims of sexual violence.

This requires that member states provide the necessary protection for women and girls against gender based-violence, as well as assistance, care and support to GBV victims.

1. Find out if there are any other regional commitments in the fight against gender-based violence.

2. Discuss various gender-based violence crimes committed in countries that Rwanda shares regional commitments with.

3. Explain the efforts made towards implementing these regional commitments in the fight against gender-based violence.

4. Do the Rwanda policies and laws on gender-based violence adequately address the regional commitments and policies?

Rwanda has also ratified several international conventions and implemented legal and policy frameworks that address the issue of GBV. The following are international commitments in the fight against gender-based violence and child abuse.

This was adopted in 1979 by the UN. It aims at eliminating any form of political, economic, social, cultural and civil discrimination against women. States are required to enshrine gender equality into their national laws and eliminate customs that promote superiority of one sex or gender role stereotypes. In addition, states should establish tribunals and public institutions to protect women against discrimination.

Article 1 of the treaty defi nes discrimination against women as any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field

Article 2 requires states to enshrine gender equality into their national laws and remove all discriminatory provisions in their laws. It also requires them to establish tribunals and public institutions to guarantee women of effective protection against discrimination and eliminate all forms of discrimination against women by individuals, organisations and enterprises.

Article 5 requires states to eliminate prejudices and customs that promote the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of one sex or stereotyped roles for men and women.

This affirms that children have a right to be protected from all forms of abuse or exploitation. States must take measures to provide protection through the standards it has set for health care, education, legal, civil and social services.

Article 19 of Th e Convention on the Rights of a Child declares that every child has a right to be protected from hurt or mistreatment of body or mind.

        

The article states that:

a) Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

b) Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.

This was established to realise gender equality and equal Human Rights for women and girls in the world. It recognises that violence against women including rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, affects the whole society negatively. It directs states not to use customs, traditions or religious considerations that promote the discrimination and marginalisation of women. States are required to ensure that women who are subjected to such violence receive justice. The following articles show the member states' declarations. Article 17, conviction that ‘The explicit recognition and reaffi rmation of the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment’.

Article 29, determination to ‘Prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls’.

Other international instruments provide protection for women in situations of armed conflict. The Rome Statutes (1998) of the International Criminal Court recognises rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced sterilisation, and other forms of sexual violence as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR 1325) in 2000 similarly calls on parties involved in armed confl ict to put in place special plans to protect women and girls from SGBV. States must also prosecute those responsible for SGBV during armed conflicts, war or genocides.

Conduct research on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, Rome Statutes (1998) and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (2000) and answer the following questions.

1. Do you think Rwanda has implemented laws to eliminate discrimination against women in the country according to articles 1, 2 and 5 of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women? What can be done to improve the situation in Rwanda?

2. Have you witnessed cases of child mistreatment in the country? Explain what the government has done to ensure children rights are protected as per Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of a Child.

3. Assess the efforts of the government and community towards implementing Article 29 of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).

4. According to the Rome Statutes (1998) and the UNSCR 1325 (2000), identify crimes committed against women during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

5. Explain the protective measures outlined in the Rome Statute (1998) and the UNSCR 1325 (2000) that could have been provided for during and after the genocide against the Tutsi.

6. Compare and contrast these international commitments with regional and national policies on GBV and Child Abuse.

7. Do the national and regional policies or commitments adequately address the international commitments?

Generally, the police bear a heavy responsibility in fighting rape, domestic violence and abuse cases. The police have the following duties:

1. Thoroughly conducting investigations on all alleged incidents of GBV against women.

2. Carrying out investigations in a manner that upholds the rights and needs of victims of abuse and violence while ensuring that they do not add to the burden experienced by the victim.

3. Protecting all victims of crime.

4. Preventing crime as much as possible and enforcing laws.

Police are guided in their work by the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement adopted by the 1979 General Assembly of the United Nations officials. In line with this code of conduct, while dealing with cases of rape, domestic violence and abuse, police officers have the following responsibilities:

a) to take steps to ensure safety of the victims,

b) to gather and preserve detailed evidence,

c) to ensure that any children at the scene of the crime are given appropriate support/assistance as required, including referrals to appropriate agencies,

d) to conduct detailed interviews with all victims and witnesses,

e) to interrogate the offender or alleged offender at the police station.

The Police Gender Desk receives reports, conducts investigations and recommends arrests and prosecution of perpetrators of GBV. Through the Gender Desk at the police stations, the police work to prevent gender-based violence, provide rapid response to reports of rape and abuse, assist victims to get access to help and collect information on gender-based violence.

The Judicial Police Unit responds to crimes on a daily basis and the Child and Family Protection Unit of the police provides victims with referral services to specialised care. The Community Policing Unit at the Gender Desk provides community sensitisation on gender-based violence. A centralised national police hotline directs one to the appropriate response unit.

Did you know that you have a responsibility in the fight against GBV? The GBV policy places a responsibility on every individual to report GBV cases, to support victims and not to tolerate GBV in the community.

Refusing to assist a GBV victim or refusing to provide testimony in a case of GBV is regarded as a criminal offence.Where victims are unable to report violence to the police, regular public meetings and the Community policing committees at Umudugudu level provide an avenue for neighbours to report cases of GBV and child abuse.

The Anti-GBV and Child Protection Committees that exist at the grassroots level in all districts similarly provide an avenue for gathering information and coordinating GBV response services for victims at the community level.

1. Assess the role of the police and community members in reporting cases of rape, domestic violence and child abuse in the country.

2. Identify changes that have occurred since the police and community members have taken up their roles in reporting cases of abuse.

3. How can the police and community members make reporting of cases of abuse easier for society?

1. Describe the advice and assistance you would give a victim of GBV who is ignorant of the laws and different mechanisms available for dealing with crimes of GBV and child abuse.

2. Role-play a scene about reporting a case of GBV. The act should include scenes of the victim reporting to the relevant authorities and the process of reporting and help accorded to the victim in terms of counselling services or advice about legal aid.

1. Describe the national, community and school-based interventions for fighting GBV and child abuse in Rwanda.

2. Discuss the role of three government ministries in the fight against GBV and child abuse.

3. Explain the main objectives for prevention of GBV as outlined in the National Strategic Plan for Fighting Gender-Based Violence 2011-2016.

4. Describe the coordination of various mechanisms and stakeholders in the fight against GBV and child abuse at the national, district and umugudugu levels.

5. Analyse the eff ectiveness of community-based initiatives in addressing GBV and child abuse.

6. Explain the importance of the following international commitments in the fi ght against GBV and child abuse:

a) Th e Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

b) Th e Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

c) Th e Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

7. Describe the role of the police and community members in fighting rape, domestic violence and child abuse cases in Rwanda.

8. Discuss how you would support the fight against gender-based violence and child abuse in the society.

9. Describe how you would show care and respect for victims of gender-based violence and child abuse in your community.

10. How would you defend the rights of all vulnerable persons in your district?

Using scenarios, Relate cases of gender-based violence and child abuse to national laws and policies, regional and international commitments.