The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolee Uwimana, urged meaningful cooperation across all sectors to build families free of gender-based violence (GBV), as the 16 Days of Activism against GBV began on Monday, November 25.

She made the call during a dialogue marking the beginning of the global campaign against GBV, in Kigali. Rwanda will observe the 16 Days of Activism with the theme "All for GBV-Free Families.”

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"As we launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence today, we call for collective cooperation. Government institutions, civil society and private organizations, and partners must unite to eliminate GBV. We cannot achieve a GBV-free society without working together,” Uwimana said.

The Minister said that Rwanda has made significant strides in fighting GBV since 1994 but challenges remain.

"After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Rwandan community faced severe repercussions. Gender-based violence often overlaps with other societal issues, including domestic violence, unplanned births, and the misuse of family resources,” she said.

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These challenges, she noted, disproportionately affect children and often lead to problems such as homelessness, malnutrition, dropping out of school, and drug abuse.

The Minister also highlighted the persistent misunderstanding of gender equality as a barrier to eradicating GBV.

"Some individuals still misunderstand the concept of gender equality, using it as an excuse to perpetuate violence,” she said.

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Uwimana raised particular concern about sexual violence against children, which not only leads to early pregnancies but also causes significant psychological and social harm.

"A significant number of children experience sexual violence, even if it does not result in pregnancy,” she added.

Despite progress made in addressing GBV, Uwimana acknowledged that gaps remain, particularly in preventive measures.

"While much is being done to tackle GBV, prevention efforts are still insufficient. The costs of addressing the effects of GBV are far higher than investing in prevention,” she noted.

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She called on every member of the society to take responsibility for reporting GBV incidents to ensure timely and effective intervention.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign running annually from November 25 to December 10. It aimed at raising awareness and advocating for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.

In Rwanda, the campaign’s high-level dialogue serves as a platform for multi-sectoral actors to collaborate in empowering families and creating safer, more resilient communities.