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Rwanda takes tough stance in fighting gender-based violence

Xinhua, December 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rwanda has vowed to put in place integrated approaches and new forms of collaboration to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking on Thursday at an event to hand over a house to a vulnerable GBV victim in Eastern Province, Rwanda's minister of gender and family promotion Esperance Nyirasafari said that ending GBV needs a collective action of all citizens irrespective of their status in society.

"Ending gender-based violence requires the development of integrated approaches and new forms of strong partnership. We are working towards preventing the root causes of gender-based violence," she said.

The minister noted that Rwanda has significantly stepped up efforts to end GBV by establishing Isange centers against GBV across the country.

Isange was created in July 2009 as a multi-sectorial and interdisciplinary program aimed at providing free-of-charge psychosocial, medical, police and legal services to victims of GBV and child abuse.

GBV include violence targeting women, trafficking, violence and torture against children, sexual violence in conflict and other harmful practices.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015 included a target to end gender-based violence by 2030.

According to statistics from Rwandan police, anti-GBV and child protection directorate, a total of 3,127 cases of defilement were registered between 2012 and 2013 in the country. At least 325 cases of rape were recorded in the same period.

At the event, Emmanuel Gasana, inspector general of Rwanda police, said that domestic violence and gender-based violence crimes are among the top five high-impact crimes recorded in Rwanda.

"GBV is a barrier to national security and development. Self justice escalates insecurity. Breaking silence on gender-based violence will facilitate justice to prosecute culprits and set a precedent," he noted.

It is estimated that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives, according to the UN reports.

Rwanda last month inaugurated a regional center against gender-based violence and child abuse in Africa backed by the UN and the World Bank. Endit