Rwanda launches 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Rwanda started the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Monday, calling for joint efforts to tackle gender-based violence.

This year's national theme is "All for GBV-Free Families," with an emphasis on family cohesion and the collective responsibility in preventing conflicts and tackling gender-based violence.

Speaking at a high-level dialogue to discuss solutions to eliminate all forms of GBV in communities in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Rwandan Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Consolee Uwimana said collective efforts are needed to stop gender-based violence.

The dialogue sought to promote family-centered approaches, strengthening community-based interventions and structures to prevent all forms of violence.

Stressing the need to foster peaceful families, Uwimana called for timely reporting of cases of gender-based violence and asked each person to act as another's watcher.

Roughly 736 million women, or about one in three, have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, with most cases perpetrated by current or former intimate partners, according to the latest UN report.

Jennet Kem, the UN Women representative in Rwanda, said the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is not just a time to reflect but a time to act and keep acting.

"We must unite in our commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Together, we can build a future where every woman and girl in Rwanda, and across the world, can live in safety, dignity, and freedom. The time for change is now. Let's continue to work towards a society where violence against women is a thing of the past," she said.

Kem underlined that the key to ending violence lies in the synergies of action from communities, government, civil society, media, and ultimately, all people.

"There is power in collective action. When governments, organizations, and individuals come together, a huge difference can be made. The commitment to ending GBV must be unwavering, and this means taking proactive steps at every level, from grassroots efforts to national policies to foster a culture of respect, equality, and safety," she said.