Members of the women’s federation of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) in Gasabo have vowed to fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the district.

Its coordinator in the district, Sheila Karigirwa Mugenzi, communicated the resolution, yesterday, during their general meeting held in Kigali.

According to Karigirwa, cases of GBV are reported particularly in the rural sectors of the district including Rusororo, Nduba and Rutunga.

"All members should join efforts in fighting GBV because it’s one of the major hindrances to development in the society” Karigirwa said.

She asked women to always timely report cases of GBV to concerned authorities and to forward reports of such crimes to the federation for follow up.

In an interview with The New Times, Karigirwa noted that the federation sensitises women to form cooperatives to easily acquire loans from financial institutions, a move that has enabled them to fight poverty in their respective households.

She noted that the federation would form anti-GBV clubs in all the 15 sectors in the district to mobilise women and girls to fight GBV.

Karigirwa said similar campaigns will be extended to various schools in the district.

Women in the district discussed the issue as part of the international campaign dubbed 16 days of activism against GBV runs countrywide, after its launch last Friday.

She said that one of the major challenges in eliminating GBV include the mindset among women especially in the rural areas where victims fear to report the cases to concerned authorities, adding that the federation will continue to encourage them to stop concealing such crimes.

The vice Mayor of Gasabo District in charge of Social Affairs, Marie Louise Uwimana who was also in attendance, called upon the federation’s members to play an advocacy role on crucial matters like family planning.

Therese Nyiraburanga, a resident of Rusororo Sector who is also a member of the federation noted that after every two months, women in her sector meet and share their success stories besides discussing various experiences regarding poverty alleviation.

 "The RPF women federation is very crucial because it has enabled us to fight isolation through joining different government activities...other women in the district should actually join the party,” said Nyiraburanga.

She asked the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders to sensitise women on issues concerning their rights which she said would eradicate cases of GBV in the country.

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