BUBANZA, November 26th (ABP) – The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, launched the 16-Day Activism Campaign against Violence to Women and Girls on Monday, November 25, 2024, in Gihanga district of Bubanza province (northwest Burundi).
The Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Imelde Sabushimike, said that this campaign comes at a time when violence against women and girls is still visible, despite the efforts of the State, with the establishment of various centers to combat this scourge and assist victims, the law on gender-based violence, the BIDF and others. She continued to say that some of the causes of the persistence of this violence are, among others, the misuse of new information and communication technologies, the bad behavior of some and others.
She emphasized that the said ministry plans to adopt appropriate strategies for its eradication.
As for the resident representative of the United Nations system, she indicated that in the world, in one hour, five women or girls are killed as a result of various conflicts, and one in three women is a victim of various forms of violence. She promised the effective involvement of the United Nations system to deal with it.
In her speech, the Burundian first lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, called for a synergistic fight against violence against women, girls and even men, because, she said, this violence affects the development of households, the education of children and the well-being of the entourage. She called for avoiding complicity and denouncing the perpetrators, and providing support to victims.
She urges administrative officials and parents to closely monitor the education of children, especially minors who frequent bars in the absence of their parents, because perpetrators of violence may take advantage of their drunken state.
She invites men to let their wives devote themselves to development projects because they contribute to household income. And to women to avoid unacceptable behavior that dishonors them. She hopes that Burundi will be a good reference, in the world, in the eradication of violence against women and girls.
Note that this 16-day activism campaign against violence to women and girls were launched under the theme: “Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: let us unite to end violence against women and girls”. Therefore, 10 people, who stood out in the fight against this violence, were awarded.