Women sensitised on GBV

GISAGARA — Women in the country have been urged to work hard to improve their financial status, as one of the ways of preventing Gender Based Violence (GBV). Lt Désiré Sezikeye of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), made the call at a workshop for members of anti GBV clubs in Muganza sector, last week. The workshop was organised to train participants on different forms of GBV and the ways to fight them. Lt Sezikeye noted during his presentation that poverty is the major cause of GBV in Rwandan society. He called upon residents to work hard so as to escape the crippling cycle of poverty. “We have the capacity to improve our lives, what we have to do is to work hard,” he said. He stressed that women should lead the campaign against GBV, as they are the first line of victims, adding that there is need for women to report cases of violence, instead of suffering silently in their homes. Women, he added, should strengthen their positions within society by breaking the dependence on their male counterparts. “You have to be convinced that you are able to live on your own by striving to create your own wealth and by being able to provide for the whole family,” he said. Members of anti-GBV clubs vowed to fight against all forms of violence. Geraldine Mumporeze, a resident and member of Remera cell club, committed to sensitise women on domestic violence so as to break the culture of silence. “I will advise women to report their husbands if they violated their rights. Violence against women is a crime and should be punished,” Mumporeze said. Muganza Sector Executive Secretary, Jacques Rushema, emphasised the importance of such training sessions, saying they are crucial in stemming GBV. He revealed that cases of domestic violence have been decreasing since the creation of anti-GBV clubs in cells. Statistics in the sector indicate that only 20 cases of GBV were reported in the period March-May this year- compared to 86 in the last quarter of 2008. This decrease has been attributed to the formation of anti-GBV clubs in cells. Ends