BUJUMBURA, January 13th (ABP) – The leaders of associations working in the health sector are called upon to collaborate with lawyers, psychologists and doctors so that victims of gender-based violence (GBV) are well treated in all respects, Mr. Jean Pierre Sakaganwa, the legal representative of the non-profit association “Jijuka”, told a check by ABP on January 8, 2025 an interview.
He pleaded that GBV victims must be treated like others in society because, “we have noticed that victims are raped differently”. In order to eliminate all this, he asked the leaders of the associations to sensitize their members on the treatment of GBV victims. The deputy advisor of the gender unit at the Ministry of Justice, Moïse Bimenyimana, for his part, pointed out that violence against human rights in general and women’s rights in particular are a reality in the country as it is also the case in other countries around the world.
In addition, he said, measures to protect these rights, both national and international, have been taken by drafting laws.
He pointed out that from January 1 to October 31, 2022, they processed 1,383 cases of victims, of which 1,096 are women and 287 are men and 585 are minors. Hence, he recalled that there are rights that protect victims of GBV.
Bimenyimana called on the people of Burundi to know the rights of GBV victims in order to protect them in society. “My child got pregnant and was bullied in society, but as parents, we took the responsibility to protect her;” Sifa Kamikazi, one of the parents met on the site, revealed to the check by ABP. To that end, she called on parents to upbring their children and support them in times of difficulty. “Parents, let us rise up once again and provide our daughters with an upbringing, because some children are afraid of their parents, and there are also parents who do not interact with their children especially their daughters,” she said.
Mrs. Kamikazi recommended parents to collaborate with teachers in order to know the discipline of their children when they are at school, stressing that a disciplined child gives respect to his/her parents and the country.
A young girl aged 23, who suffered an unwanted pregnancy while she was at school, testified that she was physically and psychologically raped. She indicated that unwanted pregnancies among teenage girls hinder their development. Some have completely abandoned their studies and others face social exclusion. She added that violence against children’s rights including non-registration in the marital status which causes a lack of respect within the family. She advised young Burundian girls to continue their studies properly and obey their parents.