Rwanda today joins the rest of the world to mark International Widows’ Day, with the national focus on addressing the plight of widows and widowers in the country.

Organised by AVEGA-Agahozo in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and other widows’ associations, the day will be marked under the theme, "The unique contribution of widows and widowers and their associations in the reconstruction of the country.”

Speaking at a news briefing in Kigali, on Tuesday, Valerie Mukabayire, the president of AVEGA-Agahozo, called on the public and private organisations to join hands in solving the most prevalent issues affecting widows.

"Widows have come along way to be where they are now, but they still face challenges,” said Mukabayire.

"This day will be a space for us to share our journey and the achievements we have made over the years, how we have managed to rebuild ourselves, but it will also highlight the challenges that we face.”

Mukabayire said it will be the moment to give special recognition to the important and unique contributions of widows and widowers in Rwanda.

"It is hard to live without a man in the house, but it is also worse to live in the same situation when you have kids that you are not able to care for. This is the painful journey of many widows. Although Rwanda’s story is unique, there’s a lot that has been achieved and this is why we want to recognise those who have made remarkable progress,” Mukabayire added.

The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in which more than a million people were killed left over 50,000 people as widows.

Although there are no clear figures of the number of widows and widowers in the country, there is quite a big number of widows under different associations.

Today’s event will provide a platform where panellists composed of widows and widowers and their associations, opinion leaders and activists will share their journey, and contribution of widows and widowers, especially to the country’s reconstruction efforts in post-Genocide.

Meanwhile, Diane Gashumba, the minister for gender and family promotion, said Government and other partners have put in place mechanisms to address the plight of widows and their children, and, more importantly, empower them as women.

"The country is working hard to make sure that all widows and their children get necessary support to peacefully live in society. Several activities are being carried out and various initiatives have been put in place to empower all vulnerable women in our communities,” she said.

"We want to sensitise women and the communities to come together and support widows through various activities and show them that the future is bright. We also want to emphasise that through dialogues, a lot can be achieved.”

Through ‘Tubarere Mu Muryango’ initiative and other schemes, the Government has been able to bring together widows and their children in different associations to streamline support for them.

According to the United Nations, there are some 259 million widows around the world. Widows are often stigmatised by families and communities. Many suffer discrimination based on age and gender. Some have lived lives marked by physical and sexual abuse.

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