MUKAZA, April 14 (ABP) – The ministry of justice, human rights and gender, in collaboration with UN Women, organized on Thursday, April 9, 2026, a present ation session of digital platforms developed in the framework of institutional support project for the establishment of the National Observatory for the Fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Burundi.
In her opening speech, the director in charge of the department for the promotion of human rights within the ministry, Spès Bivuzimana, stated that the said activity aimed to ensure the ownership and strengthening of the digital platforms by institutional users, development partners, civil society, academia, and the media.
According to this official, these platforms include the alert and case management system for gender-based violence in Burundi, the planning and management system for gender-related interventions, as well as the digital library on GBV.
Furthermore, those platforms host deeply personal data, including identities, accounts of trauma, as well as sensitive medical and legal information. Ms. Bivuzimana indicated that the Burundian State has solemnly and irrevocably committed to guaranteeing the protection of this data, in compliance with the new law on personal data protection adopted by the pa rliament in January 2026.
These tools were designed to address the lack of reliable data, which is essential for developing effective strategies to combat violence against women and girls.
Regarding how they function, Ms. Bivuzimana specified that the digital library will serve as a resource center bringing together specialized documents accessible online. It will act as a reference for anyone wishing to strengthen their knowledge on the prevention and fight against gender-based violence.
The UN Women country representative, Clara Mah Anyangwe, for her part, emphasized that those innovative tools aim to significantly improve the collection, management, and analysis of data related to GBV. They will notably help to alert, monitor, and coordinate responses to cases of violence, while ensuring rapid, secure, and survivor-centered care.
She further added that the said platforms will facilitate the planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of gender-related interventions, while strengthening access to information, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning. They thus constitute an essential lever for the effective operationalization of the national observatory for the fight against GBV, which represents the expected outcome of this project.
The UN Women representative also reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to supporting the government of Burundi as well as civil society organizations in their efforts to promote women’s rights and achieve sustainable gender equality.
During the discussions, participants welcomed the establishment of these platforms, considering that they will effectively contribute to the fight against violence against women. In response to concerns regarding illiterate women, the organizers indicated that awareness campaigns will be conducted in collaboration with local associations and community agents, in order to inform populations even in remote hills and facilitate access to the services offered.