RUTANA, March 26th (ABP) – International Women’s Day was celebrated in Rutana on Friday 21 March 2025, according to local sources.
In his speech, the governor of Rutana province, Olivier Nibitanga, stressed that that day was an opportunity to take stock of the progress made by the province in implementing international commitments to promote women’s rights. He stressed that that celebration represents a valuable opportunity for women to reflect on the efforts made and the progress achieved in their role in family and national development.
Nibitanga pointed out that when we talk about women, we are talking about the mistress of the home, in other words the mother of the house. He pointed out that no other country values that concept as much as Burundi. He urged women to understand the history of women’s struggles in America, Russia and Europe, who demanded their rights, and whose battles led to the establishment of 8 March as a day to celebrate women’s rights. He recalled that in those countries, women did not enjoy the right to vote, whereas in Burundi, women have always played a central role in the appointment of the future king.
Nibitanga went on to point out that times have changed, and that men and women now work together to ensure the prosperity of the home. He stressed the need to work together to ensure the well-being of the family and the country, saying that national development begins in the home.
On the subject of family and national development, he affirmed that when a woman invests herself in work, she truly becomes a pillar of progress. With that in mind, that year’s slogan calls on women to get involved in projects aligned with Burundi’s vision for 2040 and 2060. The aim is for every citizen to be able to eat their fill, live with dignity from their resources and enjoy a decent standard of living. He also stressed the importance of adequate nutrition, health and education for children, both at school and in their moral training.
Nibitanga also assured the audience that, as a representative of the State, the preservation of peace and security would remain an absolute priority. However, he warned the population, particularly women, to remain vigilant against ill-intentioned people and sowers of discord. He stressed that although the security forces are present, it is the responsibility of every citizen to be alert and report any threat to national security, as insecurity affects the whole community.
He called on everyone to act responsibly to avoid any action likely to disrupt the implementation of development projects.
He also expressed his gratitude to the men and women who have distinguished themselves by their commitment during that period.
For her part, Jacqueline Nzeyimana, President of the Rutana Provincial Women’s Forum, expressed the women’s satisfaction at the progress made by the country in promoting and protecting the rights of women and young girls. She praised the many measures taken to ensure their inclusion in development initiatives.
She recalled that that year’s slogan, “Women are the pillars of development, let’s support them in projects aligned with vision 2040 and 2060”, calls on every Burundian and even the international community to actively support women and girls in development initiatives, in order to help families and the country move forward. She also stressed the need for close collaboration between the judiciary, the administrative authorities, the forces of law and order and the population to eradicate all forms of violence and discrimination against women throughout the country.
She did, however, mention certain obstacles, in particular the lack of resources to carry out the actions undertaken. She called for greater support for organisations working to defend women’s rights, and for international organisations to provide effective support for the women’s network, which is structured from local to national level.
Despite those challenges, Nzeyimana affirmed that the Rutana Women’s Forum had not given up. It has taken significant action, such as providing legal education for women, raising awareness of the rights of women and young girls, and encouraging women to register en masse to vote and stand as candidates in the 2025 elections. The network has also promoted the integration of women into cooperatives and training in project management to facilitate access to credit.
She also reaffirmed the network’s commitment to pursuing concrete actions such as educating young people and raising their awareness of patriotism, encouraging girls to continue their studies, particularly in technical and vocational fields, encouraging women and girls to work together in cooperatives and associations to increase their productivity, training women in project management to ensure their financial autonomy, promoting hygiene and cleanliness in all communities, and defending and protecting the rights of women and girls through advocacy.
The festivities began with a football match between Rutana Basic School and Rutana 3 Basic School, which ended in a 0-0 draw.