BUBANZA December 17th (ABP) – The Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Mrs. Imelde Sabushimike, considers that the step already taken in the application of Resolution 1325 is satisfactory in Burundi, this was revealed during the Open Day on Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council on Women, Peace and Security, organized by the said Ministry on Thursday the 16th, at the headquarters of Bubanza province (north-west of Burundi).
In the interview given to journalists, Minister Sabushimike spoke of some achievements showing the step already taken, among others, the fact that the Constitution grants the minimum of 30% of women in different institutions, the establishment of laws on the fight against GBV, laws in the field of defense and security forces authorizing women and girls to participate in peacekeeping missions, the establishment of the National Development Plan (PND) which advocates the eradication of inequality under all its forms, the establishment of integrated healthcare centers. Minister Sabushimike also indicated that her ministry has initiated programs such as “Nawe nuze”, “Merankabandi” and others, which involve women in savings and loan groups, and where women are trained on income generating activities. Soon the Women’s Bank will open its doors, she added.
Other examples showing the step already taken is the representation of women in governance, in this year 2021, among the village councilors, women represent 20%, among the village leaders, women are at 8%, women in the communal councilors represent 34% and among communal administrators, 36% are women, a check by ABP revealed.
As for the challenges, various speakers pointed out during that open day that the minimum of 30% of women granted by the Constitution remains silent with regard to their application at the level of local structures, the lack of economic empowerment of women in households and others.
Minister Sabushimike called for the effective involvement of the various institutions and partners in the effective implementation of that Resolution 1325 in Burundi.