Gender-based violence

HIV infections among women and girls have risen in every part of the world in recent years. The numbers point to a fundamental and startling reality-the HIV/AIDS pandemic is inextricably linked to the brutal effects of sexism and gender inequality, most pronounced in Africa.

Consider these statistics: The latest reports from the UNAIDS (Dec. 2007) show 33.2 million people are living with HIV throughout the world. Sub-Saharan Africa has more than two-thirds (22.6 million) of the total number of HIV infections. Sixty-two per cent (14 million) of those infected are women and adolescent girls. Seventy-five per cent of all HIV-positive women in the world are African.

Why are we allowing women and girls to die from this preventable and treatable disease? What is a woman worth in our world today?

Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of General Staff, General James Kabarebe, signed on to UNIFEM's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign as he officially launched the Gender Desk within the Ministry of Defence on 11 August 2008.

"The Rwanda Defence Force shall not spare any effort in as far as fighting gender-based violence and violence against women is concerned," said General Kabarebe. "We shall work to enhance the existing partnership with UNIFEM and collaborate with other institutions and organizations to ensure success."

The Gender Desk, now fully operational with dedicated staff and new equipment, is a component of the RDF's programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both in Rwanda and within its peacekeeping missions.