MAKAMBA, August 2nd (ABP) – Members of the provincial offices of women’s forums are called upon to participate in the promotion and protection of women’s and girls’ rights.
The call was launched on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 during the training for capacity building among members of the National Women’s Forum (FNF) organized by the University of Burundi, through its Burundi Women’s rights awareness and protection (WRAP) project, in collaboration with the national office of the FNF, a check by ABP revealed.
The chairperson of the FNF, Mrs. Emérence Bucumi, asked women leaders to always think of their peers when they participate in different meetings related to the promotion of women. These women leaders are invited to give the situation of women and girls whenever necessary. However, Mrs. Bucumi deplores the fact that there are private companies that do not respect women’s rights, particularly in relation to maternity leave. She promised that she will initiate an investigation to find out which private companies do not respect the rights of women and girls, in order to approach the competent authorities for these practices to be banned.
The coordinator of the Burundi WRAP project, Professor at the University of Burundi, Mr. Pacifique Niyonizigiye (PhD), indicated that the rights of women and girls will be effective when Burundian men know that there are cultures and mores that contribute to the denigration of women, hence the need to raise awareness at all levels of the population. He further indicated that these men must know that women’s rights are those of the human person.
FNF members in the new province of Burunga are pleased with the progress made by Burundi in terms of women’s rights, even if the situation of women’s and girls’ rights needs to be further improved.