The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Asha Rose Migiro, has said that the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) should go beyond putting in place national policies, but should also involve women in decision-making processes.

She said this in a meeting with members of the Forum for Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP) at the Parliament yesterday.

Migiro added that gender based violence is a vice that needs regular watching and monitoring by everybody.

"It’s not enough to pass resolutions, it’s not enough to have national action plans,” the UN deputy boss said.

She particularly singled out economic empowerment of women and involving them in decision making at all levels, which she said, are crucial steps in finding lasting solutions to GBV.

Emphasizing the pertinent role of education in this fight, Migiro said that her office is encouraging countries to put in place laws and policies that address the violence. "And I’m glad that here in Rwanda, you have done so,” she said.

Flanked by the Speaker of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana, Migiro praised Rwanda for having the only Parliament in the world with the highest number of female parliamentarians. 

In her speech, Mukantabana attributed the gender equality success story in Rwanda to the country’s strong political leadership that recognizes women as equal partners in Rwanda’s development agenda.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General is in the country to attend a high level intergovernmental meeting of the UN aimed at reviewing and evaluating the "Delivering as One UN” initiative which began yesterday at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

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