CNF rallies women to protect the vulnerable

The National Women Council (CNF) has urged women to help the vulnerable members among them. Alice Uwingabiye, CNF coordinator in Eastern Province, said women in Rwanda, particularly local leaders have been empowered enough to make positive changes in society. She was speaking during a one day meeting of women leaders in the Eastern Province in Rwamagana District, yesterday, where she observed that women were agents of positive changes at the grassroots and family level, making important decisions about resource consumption that impact global trends. “We want to engage numerous women’s groups to fight for the health and safety of their families. Considerable attention is being focused now on utilising women’s skills and knowledge to improve family livelihoods and lifestyle,” she said. Uwingabiye challenged families to choose non-violence means over aggression to solve any differences. “The empowerment is supposed to be a successful model for transforming women into agents of positive change. Women should help females right from housemaids, up to house wives who are usually abused and sometimes killed by husbands”. The call for a positive change was further echoed by the Governor of Eastern Province, Odette Uwamariya, who said it was high time women tackled society ills. Citing a recent case where a woman was killed by her husband in the province, Uwamariya said women must work out modalities to help advance their rights. “Why do women watch on as fellow women suffer gender violence...even though GBV case are reducing we are still witnessing unacceptable cases”. Uwamariya also challenged women leaders to advise families to check issues of hygiene and malnutrition in children. She challenged women leaders to promote family planning and keep children in schools. “It is a sad reality that some children are still malnourished...their hygiene and cleanliness are still wanting. It is an issue of poor parenting”. “Families with many children tend to live resigned life...imagine a situation where someone with zero income having ten children. Such parents find themselves in state of hopelessness,” said Joy Kayitesi.