16 Days to Make Girls Heard: Day 11

Girl Guides in Rwanda have marched through the city of Kigali to honour victims of violence as part of the WAGGGS 16 Days to Make Girls Heard campaign to fight violence against women.

The march took place on 25 November and involved 60 Girl Guides from Kigali, together with representatives from organizations including UN Women and the Rwanda National Police.

The march ended at the Amahoro National Stadium, where the participants heard speeches on ending violence against girls and women. Afterwards, a football game took place between women from parliament and women from civil society –including girl guides. The march was organized by the Rwanda Girl Guides Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and Right to Play.

Rwanda Girl Guides Association executive secretary Alice Mukamazimpaka said organizations and the government should involve young people - especially girls - in the fight to end violence.

“I implore all activists to see girls as the solution,” she said, “not only as victims. Let them be involved in the decisions regarding them because they know better what they wish.”

On Wednesday, 20 Girl Guides aged between 15 to 25 have been invited to take part in discussions at the US embassy in Rwanda on how young people of each gender can be involved in ending violence. Girl Guide troops are also holding local debates and concerts to promote the need to eliminate violence.

Rwandan Girl Guide Pascaline Umulisa recently spoke about preventing violence against women at the UN official observation of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 15^th Anniversary of UN Trust Fund. She wrote a blog about her experience which is available now on WAGGGS’ blogs page.