The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolee Uwimana, urged residents of Kigali, who participated in the bi-monthly Kigali Car Free Day mass sports, on Sunday, December 8, to fight against and report gender-based violence (GBV).

The sports activity coincided wth the 14th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. It aimed to spread the message that everyone has a role in building a violence-free community, while also promoting healthy lifestyles through sports.

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Uwimana urged families to foster unity, peace, and open communication to prevent any abuse. She also emphasised the need to report cases of violence. Victims of GBV should seek help to ensure that interventions are made timely.

Failing to report abuse, the minister said, can lead to trauma or even suicide. Reporting abuse is a crucial step in addressing and preventing it. She called on everyone to actively participate in building a safe and violence-free society.