observers, in Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Ivory Cost, Liberia, Mali and
Central African Republic. Up to May 2014, 446 women police officers
have served in UN and AU peacekeeping missions and currently 200
female army officers are serving in UN peacekeeping missions. Rwanda
also adheres to international instruments promoting women’s
engagement in peace and security.
61. The National Action Plan for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 (20092012) has greatly contributed to women’s role in peace building and
conflict prevention. It seeks to reinforce the capacity of women in peace
and security matters, not only at national level, but at regional and
international levels, and to internalize the relation between gender,
peace and security. In September 2014, UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations organized a twelve days training for 166
female police officers to assess officers to serve in UN peacekeeping
missions around the world. Rwanda boasts of being the third highest
contributor of female police officers worldwide and second highest in
Africa to UN peacekeeping missions. 30% of formed police unit
contingents in Haiti, Central African Republic and South Sudan are
female.
62. Apart from Government initiatives, an umbrella organization of
national women’s NGOs, Pro-Femme Twese Hamwe, under its
collaborative programme “Action Campaign for Peace” requires all
member NGOs to have a peace platform and undertake activities and
programmes designed to promote peace and reconciliation. Pro-Femme
has won a number of regional and international awards for its role in
promoting peace and reconciliation in the country and also in the
region, based on the principles of gender equality and enhancing the
role of women as peace builders. These organizations worked closely
with Government law enforcement bodies like the Office of the
Ombudsman, the Judiciary, RNP and the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) to investigate or possible prosecution. Members
of the National Women’s Council also play an important role in
ensuring the involvement of women in national peace building and
conflict prevention programmes at grass-roots level.
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