A report by Intra Health has revealed that 7.2 percent women in Rwanda are violated at their workplaces. In conjunction with the Capacity Project, Twubakane and the HIV/AIDS Clinical Services (HCSP) bilateral project, Intra health carried out the countrywide survey in most health centres with the aim of fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The report was released at a ceremony to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) held at the organisation’s headquarters in Kigali on Friday.

Dr. William Twahirwa, the Deputy Chief of the Capacity Project in Intra Health said that most women who work in health centres are violated sexually while men are violated verbally.

"It is absurd that about 80 percent of the total number of women that are violated, only a few report these cases. Most women at workplaces may not be promoted genuinely but based on sexual favours that men get in return from them,” he stressed.

This year’s theme is "Men and Women: United to end violence against women. Twahirwa stresses that men should be involved in the fight against GBV. He explained that such surveys will continue to be carried out in all the other places so that the prevalence of GBV is revealed.

"Policies can then be drawn in relation to available statistics. In Intra Health, we strongly believe that when women and men are united, then violence against women will end, so men should be more involved in this cause,” he added.

Officials also expressed the positive impact of carrying out such studies adding that they are very significant in addressing the various types of GBV, its causes and they also pave way for the implementation of policies that fight the vice.

Silas Rutaganda, a representative of the National Women Council also commended Intra Health for bringing such results to public notice adding that they will help all Rwandans to understand the implications of GBV.  

"These studies are in relation to this year’s theme and will help all Rwandans to unite against violence that stands as a stumbling block towards women’s participation in the development process,” Rutaganda noted.

The women’s day celebrations will be held tomorrow in Nyagatare. The district -according to police statistics, is one of those with the highest figures of GBV against women.

Intra Health is an international organisation that seeks to create sustainable and accessible health care to all people.

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