Twenty Police officers concluded a five-day training on ‘prevention of recruitment and use of children as soldiers in armed conflicts, at the Regional Centre of Excellence on Gender-Based Violence and Child Abuse in Kacyiru.
The official closing of the training, which was organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, was presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in Charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza.
The closing was also attended by the Acting Director at the Dallaire Institute for Peace and Security – African Center of Excellence, Francisca Mujawase.
Gen (rtd) Romeo Dallaire is a Canadian, was commanding the UN peacekeeping troop that was deployed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
DIGP Ujeneza stressed that in order to prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence, it requires real shift from “simply saying ‘prevention’ to put words into action.”
“In order to prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence – be it trafficking, sexual violence, criminal networks, radicalization, or armed forces, groups or gangs – what is needed now is the real shift not just to say “prevention”, but to be practical with tangible approaches such as training police officers to equip them with knowledge and skills… to create more peaceful societies,” said DIGP Ujeneza.
By training female police officers, she added, RNP complements Rwanda’s efforts to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325), the Kigali Principles on the protection of civilians in peace operations and the Vancouver principles on peacekeeping and prevention of the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.
The DIGP noted that the training also gives RNP an opportunity to create a wider impact in peacekeeping.
She reminded the trained officers to make a difference in their daily duties and to be good ambassadors for children’s rights, both at home and abroad where they will be deployed.
DIGP Ujeneza further thanked the Dallaire Institute leadership for the partnership to protect the rights of children.
On her part, Francisca Mujawase said that improved training and capacity building for the police enhances the protection of children abroad and at home
“The knowledge on prevention of the use of children as soldiers isn’t only important for our troops engaged in peacekeeping forces but also for the benefit of our domestic security. Rwanda as an exemplary country globally, understands the importance of security sector-oriented approach to protect children and the need to invest in the children, peace and security as children are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Mujawase.
“This is the second Dallaire institute training that will lead to certification of the RNP trainers who will be supporting the Dallaire institute mission in training other troops. The audience is also unique because we all acknowledge the importance of the women, peace and security agenda and the recognized gender roles in peacekeeping,” Mujawase added.(End)