The Chairperson of the Senatorial Committee on Political Affairs and Governance, Sen. Lambert Dushimimana, has warned Rubavu residents against family conflicts saying they play a big role in inhibiting the development of households.
The lawmaker was highlighting issues regarding gender equality, and violence against women, while speaking to residents of Cyanzarwe sector, on the occasion of the International Women Day celebrated annually on March 8, which was celebrated under the theme: DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.
He said family conflict is a challenge for family development, underlining that common understanding and safety should be embraced at all cost.
"It’s good to celebrate this day by encouraging you to embrace common understanding for innovation and development. It’s hard for a family with conflict to get that, it’s a big challenge. Let us avoid family conflicts from our homes because you will not achieve anything developmental without the role of a woman and a husband,” he noted.
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Born and raised in Rubavu District, Dushimimana urged parents to treat children the same, give equal chances and opportunity to girls for them to join science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as numbers for female students are still low.
He pointed to a poor mindset by parents as a challenge and the reason why girls are still low in enrolling STEM.
"We still have a small number of girls in science and technology schools, that should be changed from the mindset of parents. Our government has done a lot of things for changing better livelihoods and having a technology-based development. Let us help girls, treat them the same as boys," Senator Dushimimana added.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, by 2020, 66 percent of male students and 51 percent of female students were enrolling in STEM programs in advanced secondary education whereas in tertiary education, statistics showed male students were at 51 percent and female students at 32 percent in STEM fields.
Chantal Uwineza, Coordinator for National Women Council at Rubavu district, said women have to work closely with their spouses for having a safe and capable family which positively impacts on their children as well.
"A woman has to work hand in hand with her husband in building a safe and capable family. There are different measures put in place towards addressing family conflicts through working along with partners,” she said.
Alice Banyangiriki and Venancia Uwamahoro, residents of Busigari cell, Kanembwe village, celebrated the day saying that they no longer fear to show up in public places contrary to the past.