Handicap International in partnership with the Swiss Department for Development and Cooperation, yesterday, launched a Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and care campaign to be carried out through community based mental health projects in Rubavu and Rutsiro districts.

The three-year project aims at protecting vulnerable members of society and helping victims get justice.

"Gender based violence is a big problem in these two districts, that’s why Handicap International wants to join hands with the government to fight the vice,” said Augustin Nziguheba, who is in charge of the project.

The two districts were selected because Handicap International and the Swiss governments have projects there; hence the need to consolidate their activities.

Jacqueline Nyirabaguriyinzira, the vice Mayor of Rutsiro District in charge of Social affairs, acknowledged the high rate of GBV in her district, blaming it on polygamy.

"We hope that this project gives us the capacity to fight and prevent GBV in our district which we didn’t have before,” added the vice Mayor.

Preliminary reports indicate that between January to March this year, Rubavu registered 28 cases of GBV while Rutsiro, registered only three cases in the month of April.

Marie Chantal Mukantwari, who lives with disability commended Handicap International for the project and hoped it would fight stigma.

"People with disability are always stigmatised and marginalised but we have confidence that this project, together with other government programs, will end our vulnerability,” Mukantwari observed.

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