The ministry of Gender and Family Promotion is set to engage more and forge strong partnership with the civil society in the fight against teenage pregnancies and gender based violence in the country.

This was decided during a consultative meeting organised by the ministry in collaboration with OXFAM and other stakeholders to exchange views on the multi-sectoral approach to the implementation of the African Union women’s rights protocol.

This is in line with article 14 of the African Union women’s rights protocol, commonly known as Maputo Protocol.

Under the sexual and reproductive health, the protocol outlines, among others, the right to control one’s fertility, the right to decide whether to have children, the number of children and spacing of children.

It also highlights the rights of women living with HIV/AIDS including the right to self-protection as well as the right to be informed of one’s health status and access to medical abortion in certain instances, including where the life and health of mother and fetus are in danger

The Monday meeting in Kigali brought together leaders from government institutions, civil society organisations, religious groups, among others.

Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, said they are assessing how far they are with regards to the ratified protocol, identify the existing gaps, and make a strategic plan for further delivery.

"A lot has been achieved in terms of rights of women and girls in Rwanda, from women representation in Parliament and other decision making positions, laws enforcement, the Isange One Stop Centre that’s providing holistic response to victims of GBV among others. However, there is still a long way to go towards effective implementation mainly with focus on ending teenage pregnancies and GBV in general,” Umutoni said.

On the July 11, 2003, in Maputo, Mozambique, African heads of state and government adopted the protocol to the African charter on human and people’s rights on the women in Africa, commonly known as Maputo protocol.

It was ratified in Rwanda in 2004.

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