I was listening to a sad story from my brother one evening. He was telling his colleagues that his workmate Fred is a wife batterer. That each time Fred was ‘tortured’ by his boss at work; he would turn his anger on the wife back home.

Fred’s wife was not aware of her rights and that her husband should not be abusing her this way. She did not even want people in the neighbourhood to know about this untold suffering. She would sit back and cry. ‘Die’ in silence.

Fred’s wife represents millions of other women battered by their husbands worldwide.

Last year, police in Rwanda released shocking figures of gender based violence cases. According to police statistics about 2,935 rape cases were committed against children in 2007.

More than 12 % of women were victims of at least one act of physical violence, and more than 13% percent were victims of psychological violence.

Worldwide, statistics have it that 7% of women [3.9million] are physically abused by their partners, and 37% [20.7million] are verbally emotionally abused in South Africa alone.

Every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband and 95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

From 7% to 26% of pregnant women are abused while 42% of murdered women are killed by their intimate partners.

In Africa, forms of violence even extend to the health or reproductive rights of women. For instance, some women are forced to hide their HIV status, should they test positive, out of fear of more violence from their spouses.

Even in cases where men are responsible for the infection.
Not even the glamorous superstars are spared, illustrious American hip-hop artist Rihana is now back with boyfriend Chris Brown who battered and is even said to have threatened to harm her.

Amidst all the challenges that women face worldwide, Rwanda is one country that has gone an extra mile to empower women.

Though many factors account for the tremendous development and independence of the Rwandan woman, the role of culture in stemming Gender Based Violence {GBV} is too significant to be ignored. And it’s historical in the Rwandan culture to treat a woman as special.

"In our tradition, Rwandans used to respect women and children,” explains, Joseph Habineza, Minister for Sports and Culture.

Habineza adds that Rwanda had a Queen Mother who could even challenge the King’s orders. This shows the historical authority Rwandan women had right from the past. It’s not surprising that Rwandan women are involved in national decision making today.

Since culture encompasses beliefs, faith, practices, customs, art, language, food, and economy the highest percentage of the population in Rwanda is influenced by culture in one way or another.

Rwandan women upholding half of the parliament isn’t a miracle, rather its part of our tradition.

"Unlike many parts of Africa where a woman has no say in society, here in homes women have to work very hard to take care of their children as well as decide basic things for their homes,” says Collette Mukamurenzi, a businesswoman.

Whereas the sensitisation on HIV/AIDS is on the rise, art and culture have played a big role as a voice of the woman through drama, poetry and music, which communicate messages against Gender Based Violence and misconduct in the society.

According to Habineza, this cultural communication has brought many achievements to the Rwandan woman. Now girls and boys have equal rights to their parents’ inheritance, they have equal rights to education among others.

The mandatory 30% quota in leadership of organizations also contributes to Rwandan women’s development.

The other side of culture which is art has as well empowered the Rwandan woman. Back in the days, colonial days, the woman was subjected to cultivating and house work. Meanwhile, the husbands would get jobs in construction companies. This made the woman totally dependent on the husband.

"We were treated as any other domestic property, beaten up like cattle,” says Alphonsine Dusabe.

Dusabe is one of the many Rwandan women whose art through basket weaving has transformed lives. Since she started this job, her family has been transformed.

Anyone without an income is vulnerable and can be easily exploited or exposed to violence. With Agaseke weaving, women have found a reliable way that allows them to be financially independent and respected by their husbands.

"I pay for three daughters at University level since my husband is jobless,” adds Dusabe.

Through art, the Rwandan woman has more access to sensitizing the community to report any injustices done to her. We’ve heard of drama teams headed by women.

This means they explore ways of tackling issues which used to be taboo in a bid to educate others. For instance, drums and moulding crafts portraying an empowered Rwandan girl.

To crown it all, a Rwandan woman can do any kind of job that a man does. In Rwanda, it is not surprising to find a woman bus driver, women in road and other constructions and many other jobs that many thought were a no go area for women.

Hopefully, the tremendous sensitisations will see the likes of Fred stopping their selfish acts and their wives learning to stand up and demand for their rights. That’s what days like the International Women’s Day are about.

Ends