As the world celebrated the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, members of the Lower Chamber of parliament yesterday called upon authorities, especially those on grass root levels, to embrace the law on the Prevention and Punishment on any form of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The lawmakers agreed that the lowest levels of administration have the power to curb the vice and appealed to them to extend the contents of the law to the entire population for reference in case such violence occurs.

"We encourage all Rwandans, women and men to know and understand the law which was passed by the Parliament and came into force in April this year,” said the Speaker of Parliament; Rose Mukantabana.

The Speaker, who was reading from a statement agreed upon by Lawmakers, advised all Rwandans to consider women rights as human rights and to disregard any thing that may lead to non respect of such rights;

She expressed deep sympathy to women who were subject to such violence and encouraged them to seek support from administrative, security or judicial organs in order to access justice in procedures provided by law.

" We appreciate the Policy adopted by Rwanda in regard to respect of the principle of gender equality between men and women in all organs and to strive for equal participation in the governance of the country hence taking the lead in the whole world in that regard,” she said
The United Nations General Assembly declared November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The day is also used to promote global recognition of gender violence.

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