NYAGATARE - The Chief Justice, Aloysia Cyanzaire yesterday urged women not to sit on the laurels of their achievements but to strive for more.

She said this during the country’s 34th International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations held in Nyagatare district- Eastern Province where she was the chief guest.

Cyanzaire hailed the government’s efforts towards embracing gender equity adding that most countries in the world have not empowered their women as Rwanda had done.

She however stressed that a lot still needs to be done to ensure that all women enjoy their rights fully so that they maximise their potential.

The Chief Justice pointed out that the only obstacle holding back women was Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which was a major setback to the country’s development.

"A family that is characterised by such violence can not develop because partners will not share or discuss constructive ideas. Their children too will not be raised as responsible citizens with good ideas to develop the nation but instead these GBV effects will force them to act violently just like they were raised hence becoming criminals in society,” she added.

Based on this year’s theme "Men and Women: United to end violence against women,” Cyanzaire urged men to end alcoholism which force them to engage in acts of violence against women hence lowering their contribution to family and national development.

The Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Dr. Jean d’Arc Mujawamariya also urged women to report all cases of violence as this helps to track down culprits and facilitates implementation of the necessary policies that curb the vice.

This year’s IWD celebrations were held in Nyagatare district mainly because it ranks among the districts with the highest GBV figures in the country. According to the Mayor of Nyagatare, Robert Kashemeza, major causes of this vice include poverty, alcoholism, and poor upbringing among others.

"Alcoholism however is still the top cause because our district is strategically located near both the Tanzanian and Ugandan borders and most residents are able to cross over and buy all sorts of illegal liquor that gets them drunk hence forcing them into acts of violence,” Kashemeza added.

As a strategy to wipe out GBV cases, officials also urged the various institutions responsible for fighting GBV such as police and courts of law to react accordingly when such cases are reported to authorities. Rwandans on the other hand were also called upon to be each other’s watchdogs.

In case anyone sees or learns about a GBV case in their community, police can be notified immediately through a toll free line -3512 or cases should be taken to the nearest authorities.

During the occasion, various plays were acted in relation to GBV, how to identify it and fight it. A resident also gave his testimony of how his past engagement in GBV almost ruined his marriage adding that overcoming these acts of violence against his wife has uplifted his family from poverty.

GBV refers to the injustices between men and women. All over the world, the biggest numbers of victims are women and acts of GBV compromise the health, dignity, security and independence of its victims.

It also includes a wide range of human rights violations, such as sexual abuse domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women and girls and several harmful traditional practices.

The effects of these abuses can leave deep psychological scars, damage the health of women and girls in general, including their reproductive and sexual health, and in some instances, results in death.

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