For twenty one years, Isidore Mukunzi and Mediatrice Nyiranduhura have lived together as 'husband and wife.' However, their marriage was not recognised legally until last week.

As residents of Byumba Sector, Gicumbi District, the two were among the over 1000 couples who lived together unlawfully, something state officials say is most likely to be the cause of family conflicts and gender-based violence.

Mukunzi and Nyiranduhura officially wedded last week, at the end of a one-month campaign targeting unlawful marriages. Thanks to the campaign by the Gender Monitoring Office and Gicumbi District, a total of 1,176 such couples have been officially married since October this year.

Their marriage coincided with the ongoing campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which was launched on Friday November 25.

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Although Mukunzi says his family has been free from gender-based violence, he and Nyiranduhura agree they were both uncertain about the future of their marriage.

"I always thought that he would leave me with the children and marry another wife and take all the property with him,” Nyiranduhura said.

"I have learnt that when you are lawfully married your rights are recognised, and you can be defended in case your partner abuses you,” Nyiranduhura said, calling on other women to consider legal marriages.

Property disputes have been one of the leading causes of domestic violence, according to officials.

"Before getting married legally, my wife and I had to agree on the benefits of a lawful marriage,” says Mukunzi.

"I wanted to show her that I have trust in her, and she showed me the same. Now, we will work together to achieve our development and that of our children.”

Although Gicumbi District hasn’t compiled figures related to domestic violence, Mayor Emmanuel Nzabonimpa says unlawful marriages have been linked to GBV cases.

"Unlawful marriages contribute to gender-based violence in our district. As one of the measures we take to address the issue, we keep sensitising our citizens, especially couples, to consider lawful marriages because they improve gender equality as the driver of a safe and stable family,” Nzabonimpa said.

The Gender Monitoring Office says with unlawful marriages, men tend to assume excessive authority of the family and treat the property as their own, making women vulnerable to gender-based violence.

"Such practices are discouraged when a couple is legally married because both partners have equal rights,” says Florien Rulihose, the deputy gender monitor.

"People should know that gender equality is a human right and the more we recognise it, the more gender-based cases will be prevented.”