The Bugesera district is afraid of citizens that refuse to denounce the perpetrators of gender-based violence and asked all community members to be the eye of others in order to build gender-based violence-free families.
The Bugesera district authorities said this in Mareba sector during the closing of 16 days of activism and campaign to end gender-based violence in the event organized in partnership with Women for women Rwanda.
This event happened on 10th December 2022, prior to the ceremonies were preceded by a march to fight against gender-based violence with a slogan on the banners and T-shirts all in Orange “UNITE. Build a Violence-free Society” Authorities have reported that gender-based violence is a nasty act that hurts not only the physical but also the psychological. there is a law that punishes the perpetrators and no one is outside the law. they also talk about the law of inheritance as part of the issues related to GBV.
The V/Mayor of Bugesera district IMANISHIMWE Yvette reminded the audience that there is strength in unity, when the family is united even God bless it, she asked them to ensure that Bugesera is a district free from gender-based violence.
“We must break the silence, violence is done to our children, our sisters, or our brothers, we must join forces to eradicate gender-based violence to build a safe world and a better generation,” said IMANISHIMWE Yvette
One of the community members confirmed that some of the houses have changed due to WfW-Rwanda’s program “MenEngage, the change agents put much effort into dialogues and campaigns they conduct during the community work Known as (UMUGANDA) and other gatherings, though there are still houses that still go under different issues like drug abuse, polygamy, misuse of money by men, selfishness, and adultery.
“Marriage is union and love, it is not good to be in quarrels all the time with a person who is there to help you and you should share the right to make decisions that concern the family, we must change the mentality to build a better future” He added
The Women for Women Rwanda’s representative Catherine Kampire saluted the effort made by the organization and the visible change in men and women trained by the MenEngage program. She also informed the audience that they have initiated a partnership with religious leaders with an aim of ending gender-based violence for the betterment of families.
“The activism against gender-based violence end today but we need to put our efforts together and continue to fight GBV so that couples can live in respect and harmony and transfer that to their children because the mentioned are young today the future leaders” She added
In her closing remark, the Vice Mayor of Bugesera district thanked Women for women Rwanda for the partnership and efforts they put into fighting gender-based violence