Source: The New Times
Officials from the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) have tasked local authorities to educate the local population on matrimonial regimes and successions in order to stamp out gender based violence.

Speaking to Executive Secretaries from Nyabihu District, GMO's Patrick Mucyo noted that there was need for a mindset change in adopting the provisions of the matrimonial law, which grants equal rights to boys and girls, especially in succession matters.

"While Rwanda has made many efforts in promoting women's rights in rural areas, Rwandan girls and women tend to suffer sex-based discriminative practices. These are mainly related to the principal of equal rights between the female and male children" Mucyo observed.

"Girls have the right to inheritance and they can own land; there is need for dialogue so that the community respects the law",

Presenting a report on the implementation of the matrimonial regimes, liberalities and succession and the general knowledge about the law, Mucyo stated that few people, who were well informed or those who benefited from GMO training had sought legal assistance after falling victims.

"People still suffer from gender-based violence and don't do anything about it because they are not aware of the law and their rights," he noted.

The Executive Secretary of Bigogwe Sector, Louise Niyibizi, mentioned the need to use available opportunities, especially weddings and village meetings, to explain the equal rights among girls and boys.

• Rwanda