Women told to break silence on GBV, domestic violence

Women have been urged to break silence and report gender and domestic violence challenges they face as an effective way of dealing with the vices which are still rated high in the country. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Stanley Nsabimana, while launching the campaign against gender and domestic violence in Nyanza District, yesterday, challenged Rwandans to join efforts in fighting GBV and domestic conflicts by providing information of the affected families. “There are some people and women, in particular, who face these problems or have information on affected families, but are yet to open up, which is a drawback in this campaign. We need to strengthen the partnership to get rid of anything that can affect our wellbeing and rights,” Nsabimana said. The campaign against gender-based and domestic violence, also held in all parts of the country, is part of the activities to commemorate the Rwanda National Police 13th anniversary, which kicked off on Tuesday. Appoline Kambayire, the Nyanza vice mayor in charge of Social Affairs, also observed that some victims of gender-based violence are still held back by tradition, thus not reporting the problems they or their children face. “Those days are over and its time we say no to such slavery and provide information to concerned authorities,” Kambayire said. The campaign held at Busoro Sector ground and attended by students, taxi motor operators and residents of Nyanza, started with a one kilometre anti-GBV and domestic violence march from Busoro Trading Centre to the venue. The participants partook in pasting stickers with anti-GBV and domestic violence messages on vehicles. Plays by students of Apadem Secondary School and Community Policing Committees in Busoro with messages against gender-based and domestic violence especially by fighting the causes such as drug abuse and excessive drinking, graced the event.