Gender-Based Violence (GBV) crimes in Rwanda have risen drastically with over 5,000 cases recorded so far this year. The rise is partly attributed to improved awareness of the law by the public that leads to silence breaking.
However, poor investigations continue to undermine the gains made in the battle to end the crimes.
To tackle this issue, Rwanda Investigation Bureau in partnership with UN Women organised a 5-day workshop to train 70 investigators from around the country. The workshop on GBV and child abuse case management will take place from on December 16 to 20.
The workshop aims at enhancing investigation procedure of GBV and child abuse crimes.
Col Jeannot Ruhunga, the Secretary-General of RIB, told the media that the workshop will provide the investigators with the skills needed to maintain and investigate evidence professionally.
"Not just in Rwanda but worldwide, GBV crimes are hard to investigate because evidence can be delicate. This workshop will train investigators how to properly deal with such cases,” he said.
Ruhunga added that UN Women and researchers empower RIB with research skills and financial assistance to ensure the problem is being tackled.
Jeanette Bayisenge is a researcher at the University of Rwanda and one of the trainers. According to her, one of the most pressing loopholes in the process to tackle GBV is the lack of sufficient evidence to pin the perpetrators and hence leading to their release.
"Suspects getaway often because the prosecution failed to file strong evidence-based cases against them or because the victims did not maintain evidence. The workshop will tackle that,” she said.
According to UN Women, one in three women have faced either sexual or physical harassment.
Uwantege Carine, ho represented UN Women said that the numbers do not have to rise for people to realize that the problem is there. All human rights are worth being served. Investigators who are capable of unmasking the problem are needed.
"GBV and child abuse crimes are often committed in remoteness. In some cases, even the investigators are not skilled enough to dig up evidence. With this workshop, they will be trained,” she said.
In early November, Johnston Busingye, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, warned that GBV perpetrators have changed tactics, challenging investigators to change their approach too.
Ruhunga also added that GBV and child abuse crimes are one of the most pressing issues not just for Rwanda but globally.
In Rwanda, between January and November this year, 5,019 cases of Gender-based violence were recorded, up from 4,127 cases in 2018. Some 7,614 children were abused in the last three years.