Close to 200 women representatives at all levels of governance in Ngoma District have been urged to take a lead in fighting and reporting Gender Based Violence, which is said to be a factor that also affect family development.
The call was made on May 17 during a meeting that was presided over by the vice mayor Providence Kirenga alongside the District Police Commander, Senior Superintendent of Police, (SSP) Janvier Mutaganda.
In his address to the women, Kirenga told them that GBV has devastating consequences not only for victims but also for society.
“GBV has significant impact at the individual level, with victims suffering from physical and mental effects, loss of earnings and increased healthcare costs,” Kirenga said.
“It also has a wider societal negative impact, including lower productivity and thus reduced economic output and growth, and increased pressure on social and health services,” said the vice mayor.
He pointed out that effects of GBV have a long term effects on the development of any community and urged women to take a lead to ensure the vice is uprooted in the Rwandan community.
“You can only achieve that by working closely with the police and providing timely information on anyone who mistreat their partner in any way,” said Kirenga.
SSP Mutaganda echoed the same message noting that a victim of psychological or physical violence may not be in position to perform effectively or even contribute to the economy of the country.
This, he said, can further be the same case to a child who is abused and tortured.
He highlighted laws that have been put in place to curb GBV and child abuse, but warned that legal instruments and enforcing institutions cannot fully realise the goal without everyone’s involvement.
“Ending GBV and child abuse is a responsibility for all. We all have to join efforts and means to report and prevent such violence from happening,” said the DPC.
Following the meeting, women vowed to record the number of families that have disputes and reunite them.
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