SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE — During the weekends, International Women’s Day celebrations, women in Butare Cell in the Huye District, took opportunity to reflect on the impact of domestic violence in their lives. Consolée Mukandoli, was inconsolable as she narrated her ordeal. With heavy tears flowing from her eyes, amidst sobs in the audience, she narrated how her husband forced her out of their marital home, fleeing for her dear life, and that of her children. “I have gone through a traumatising time in my life,” said the 50-year old widow, “after several attempts on my life and that of my children, I was forced to relocate. I now live in a rented house.” This year’s International Women’s Day celebrated held under the theme, “Men and Women: United to end violence against women.” Mukandoli’s testimony brought to the fore challenges still faced by rural women especially in regard to the inheritance of property left behind by their spouses. When local authorities fail to act, as in the case of Mukandoli, perpetrators of such vices go unpunished, with the main consequence, being death for the victims. Desiree Mukabutera, the President of the National Council for Women, in Ngoma Sector, speaking during the ceremony, called for communal effort in ending violence against women. She said that this year’s theme is in line with that of 2008 which focussed on promoting the economic advancement of women. “Women cannot grow economically when they continue to be abused physically and psychologically. Men should know that torturing their spouses does not make them ‘man enough.’ Mukabutera said that a special law against Gender Based Violence awaits approval by the President. This law, she said, will punish many crimes orchestrated against women than has been the case before. According to statistics from the National Police gathered in the period 2005-2008, 259 women were murdered in the country by their husbands, while 200 cases of rape were reported in addition to over 10, 000 cases of defilement of children below the age of 18. Ends
