GBV victims to be compensated

Victims of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) will be compensated in order to advance the fight against the crime on the African continent. This is one of the resolutions adopted by the African Security Organs’ meeting on prevention of violence against women and girls, which ended yesterday in Kigali. The 13-member states who are signatories to the Kigali Declaration, which was adopted last year, agreed to establish a national reparation fund for victims of SGBV by the next annual review meeting, which will be held in Burundi. Botswana will hold the 2013 meeting. They also agreed to allocate budget lines for the prevention and response to SGBV to concerned ministries within the next financial year and advocate for gender sensitive curriculum in schools. Other resolutions included establishing and strengthening a national coordinating entity and encourage joint planning and proper coordination to avoid duplication with a view to ensure effective use of funds, and fair distribution of services. The meeting aimed at reviewing the implementation of the 2010 Kigali Declaration on the role of security organs in ending violence against women and girls and to implement the UN Secretary General’s campaign: ‘Unite to end violence against women and girls 2008-2015. It is also inline with the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security to address the impact of war and conflict on women and girls. The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, who presided over the closing ceremony, urged participants to make GBV fight part of the governance process to ensure access to justice. “Our government remains firmly committed and will continue to play its role at the national, sub-regional, regional and global level towards the full implementation of Resolution 1325, through prevention, protection, and participation,” Gasana said. Oda Gasinzigwa, the Chief Gender Monitor, urged member states to give attention to GBV survivors and strengthen coordination and collaboration to uproot the crime on the African continent. The signatories to the declaration are Uganda, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania and host Rwanda. bosco.asiimwe@newtimes.co.rw

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GBV victims to be compensated