Kigali-26 November 2018- The annual campaign against Gender Based Violence was launched on Sunday, 25 November 2018 under the theme: ’Building the Family We Want, Say No to Child Defilement’.

The launch of the “16 Days of Activism” was started with a walk from Parliament to Amahoro National Stadium to protest violence against women and girls. The walk was attended by Senior Government Officials including the Speaker of the Parliament, Chamber of Deputies, Donatille Mukabarisa, Development Partners, NGOs, Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society, Private sector and activists who joined hundreds of participants from Kigali City. They walked from the Parliament up to Amahoro Stadium to join other thousands of citizens that came from different districts.

Addressing thousands of participants who were gathered at Amahoro Stadium, the Speaker of the Parliament, Lower House Hon. Mukabarisa said that the Government has done a lot in preventing and responding to GBV and Child defilement however, there is a lot to do.

‘There is a lot that the Government has done in preventing and responding to GBV and Child defilement. These include the institutional legal framework that has been put in place, however, despite all these, there are still a lot to do in finding a long-term solution for ending GBV and Child defilement, that is why I call upon everyone to join hands in this battle.’-said Honorable Mukabarisa

The Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Amb. Soline Nyirahabimana, said that during the campaign, parentsand the public at large, are approached and reminded about their role in raising children as well as taking care of victims of GBV.

“Celebrating this annual event should be the time to examine ourselves on the progress in fighting Gender Based Violence. We encourage families to provide support to victims of Gender Based Violence.” -she noted.

Amb. Soline called upon everyone, men, women, boys and girls to put hands together and contribute to the country’ development and in the fight against Gender Based Violence

The UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Fodé Ndiaye greeted Rwanda for having adopted a policy of zero tolerance to GBV across all sectors supported by laws such as the Anti-GBV Law (2008) which provides severe punishment for all GBV and Violence against Women offenses. He noted that the UN will keep on investing more efforts to fight gender based violence, adding that it should be everyone’s responsibility to fight GBV.

'It is our responsibility, to say a capital NO to GBV in this beautiful country. We must stand in solidarity with survivors and survivors’ advocates and women’s human rights defenders who are working to prevent and end violence against women and girls’-  he observed.

One of the mechanisms to deal with GBV, was the set up Isange One Stop Centers, established in all 30 districts to offer holistic support to victims of sexual violence. Through #HeForShe commitment, Rwanda committed to end violence against women as one of its global commitment.

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau Secretary General Col. Ruhunga Jeanot warned child defilement perpetrators and those who don’t report it. He guaranteed that security organs are ready to fight child defilement in all its forms.

The 16 Days of Activism on ending violence against women and girls will run until 10 December. Different activities will be carried out such us the community dialogues between teen mothers and their parents, GBV clinics and supporting teen mothers.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.