The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNFEM) has commended the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) for its contribution in the fight against gender-based violence.

"Permit me to express UNIFEM’s deep appreciation of the commitment to ending the scourge of violence against women and girls by both the RDF and you personally.

UNIFEM has no doubt that we can count on your support in advancing the struggle against sexual and gender based violence and ultimately, creating a better world for every woman, man and child in Rwanda and around the globe,” the Regional Director for Unifem Central Africa Regional Office, Josephine Odera, said in a recent letter to the RDF Chief of General Staff, Gen. James Kabarebe.

The Rwandan military was represented at last month’s "Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2008” at which the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon launched a UN campaign to end violence against women. The letter to Gen. Kabarebe was copied to Defence Minister Gen. Marcel Gatsizi.

Ends