The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, yesterday, said that empowering women economically will be a major tool of fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Mujawamariya made the remarks while closing a three-day consultative workshop by UN-Women that aimed at formulating its national five-year strategic plan.

"GVB against women in most families is a result of over dependence on men. If women can be empowered economically, and are earning, they will not be violated,” Mujawamariya said.

The Minister assured participants that the government is dedicated and will work together with UN-Women and other development partners to ensure that gender violence is eradicated.

Diana Ofwona, the UN-Women Regional Director for Central Africa, said that the workshop was the first phase of their activities.

"The kind of determination in this exercise shows a successful penetration for UN-Women in Rwanda.”
She also hailed measures the government put in place to promote and empower women, especially those in rural areas.

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