16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM: A CALL TO TACKLE GBV FROM THE ROOT CAUSES

"Ending violence against women and girls can be achieved through partnerships and advocacy, coupled with coordinated action or services across different sectors such as justice, health, and education among others.”

Reiterated by Jennet Kem, UN Women's Country Representative in Rwanda during the launch of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based violence (GBV) campaign in Rwanda.

The campaign, which started on November 25, coincided with the day the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG). It is at a time when the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion indicated that the past 5 years have seen a significant increase in gender and domestic- related violence.

Under the theme “UNITE. Build a Violence-free Society”, the campaign aimed to mobilize more people to show solidarity and support to end VAWG at a time when the world at large is facing pushback against women’s rights. During the launch, 107 couples from Kagano, Kanjongo and Bushekeri Sectors in Nyamasheke district legalized their marriages aimed to build trust between couples and reduce family conflicts including violence.

Also, as part of the campaign, residents of Kigali were joined by the UN team, government officials, private sector, and civil society representatives in the car free day sports activities, painting the streets of the city orange in solidarity of ending GBV.

A consultative and policy dialogue on GBV Prevention and Response in Rwanda: From Policy to Practice was also organized to share experiences, good practices but also challenges and recommendations for policy and decision makers.

These were not just events to check the box, rather platforms to re-ignite a shared mission among grassroots activists, women human rights defenders, survivor advocates and individuals. The objective is to continue to push forward to end violence against women and girls, tackling it from small communities and families to schools, religious settings, and digital platforms. As emphasized by Prof. Jeannette Bayisenge, Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Family promotion,

“It is also a good time to think about the measures put in place to prevent, and to help the victims get full help and also to think about new measures that will help us find a lasting solution to eradicate violence, especially against women and girls.”