Faith-based organisations that want to hold religious public gatherings must have insurance and security personnel in line with ensuring the safety and security of people as well as cover damages, if need be, according to a new directive.

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The new directive on minimum standards for organising religious public gatherings, issued by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), is in line with ensuring the safety, dignity, inclusivity, and lawful organisation of religious public gatherings within the territory of Rwanda. RGB officials briefed the media about new directive at a press conference held on Friday, June 20.

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According to RGB, the directive seeks to ensure the safety, dignity, inclusivity, and lawful organisation of religious public gatherings within the country. Its requirements include that hygiene and sanitation facilities are maintained at acceptable standards throughout during an event.

Ensuring that security personnel trained in crowd control and emergency procedures are deployed, proportional to the event size and risk profile, is also a requirement.

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"This directive encourages the organisations of these activities to have insurance cover for their venues so that in case of accidents or fire or any other incident, people gathered there and the property around be covered for damages],” said Judith Kazaire, the Head of the Civil Society and Political Organisations Department at RGB.

Kazaire pointed out that organisers of such events must get the required operational permits issued by a competent entity including a district, the City of Kigali, and security organs. Also, she said, the copies of such permits must be submitted to RGB anytime they are requested.