Source: Rwanda Focus
While the entire world will celebrate Women's Day next Thursday, in Rwanda it will mark the start of a month-long campaign to promote women's emancipation.

The campaign will run from March 8 to April 5 under the theme "Empower women and girls to sustain families." Its four main focuses will be the fight against malnutrition; women empowerment in economic activities; the promotion of girls' education; and the role of women in good governance.

When it comes to malnutrition, says Judith Kazaire, the gender technical advisor at the ministry of gender and family promotion, women can live to their full potential only when they are healthy. Yet they experience many health risks and due to their position in the family, they are often taking care of others and forget themselves.

"Women need to be encouraged to take good care of their own health," Kazaire explains. "Other members of the family are also called to promote the health of women in their families and communities. The month will emphasize the importance of the woman's health with a specific focus on fighting malnutrition."

In this respect, poor families will be given cows and goats as a way to support the ongoing campaign against malnutrition and help destitute people achieve a sustainable living.

Kazaire points out that the main victims of malnutrition are women (especially those who are pregnant or breastfeeding) and children. Yet given their role as caretakers and the main actors in the household, when a mother is ill it affects the entire family. Therefore, special attention will be given to sensitizing women to play a vital role in the fight against malnutrition.

"Women who are properly educated and equipped with resources, knowledge and skills will prepare nutritious meals for their families and ensure their children are well fed and healthy," the gender advisor remarks.

When it comes to women's economic empowerment, it is time to get rid of the dependency syndrome, says Marie Ingabire Nyinawamuntu, a business woman in Kicukiro.

"For too long, women depended financially on men, this needs to be addressed - women have to think of their own financial independence. Some say that it is against our culture, that a woman cannot be more powerful financially than her husband, but that is plain ignorance. You can be strong economically and financially, and still make a very good wife and mother," Nyinawamuntu says.

Yet she adds that part of the issue is that women are not aware of the opportunities available to them and the need to access finance. Therefore, the businesswoman advises, more should be done to create awareness among women of the benefits of a savings culture and the need to invest.

That will be addressed during the women's month, because in collaboration with Minicom and the Rwanda Cooperative Agency women will be mobilized to join cooperatives in their communities such as Umurenge Sacco, not only for their own benefit but also to help others to access finance.

Yet in order to become a successful businesswoman, and in general an emancipated woman, education is vital. In this respect, Migeprof's Judith Kazaire explains that during the month there will be actions to reduce illiteracy among women, while for schoolgoing children there will be discussions as well as music and drama around various issues, such as HIV/AIDS.

Last but not least, when it comes to the role of women in good governance one of the focuses will be on involving the community in solving root causes of gender-based violence by providing a support system for affected women.

In addition, "mother's evenings" (Akagoroba k'Ababyeyi) will be organized to discuss and solve challenges women and girls' face in their community. Women living in the diaspora will also be involved.

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