The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

In 1992, there were thirteen women’s associations in Rwanda which
united under the slogan “Pro Femmes/Toutes Ensemble”. After the
gen ocide, this cooperation was initially destroyed, some members had
been killed, while others had fled the country. After the genocide,
Rwanda had 600,000 orphans; it was the women who cared for them.
Prior to the 1995 UN conference in Beijing, woman activists who had
returned from exile came together. “After they had formed a common
group, they decided to meet in order to get to know one another. Neither
side trusted the other, due to the genocide and the dehumanization
which some had undergone as a result of the politics of division which
had reigned in Rwanda prior to the genocide. … They therefore decided
to open themselves up to a culture of peace. They created a project
called ‘the campaign for peace’.” (Report, p. 171)
The women developed many initiatives for peace and reconciliation, and
they struggled to ensure that today, women play an important role in
the politics of the country. “When Rwanda established the National
Commission for Reconciliation, the Committee was headed by a
woman. When popular Gacaca Courts were created, the majority of judges
of integrity appointed were women. These are women who fought
for the rights of women and children. They have a number of political
associations, and all these associations are in an umbrella group which
does excellent work – ultimately, for Rwanda. Thanks to women, there
is now collaboration between the police and the women’s associations
in Rwanda against violence against women in couples and households.”
(Report, p. 170). Moreover, more than half the members of the Rwandan
Parliament today are women.
Today, the development of Rwanda appears to be on a good path – but
especially in the diaspora, there are still people who see the return of
the Tutsi to society and politics in Rwanda, if not as unacceptable, then
at least as temporary. The thorn of hatred has not disappeared.
Contemplation of the Genocide in Rwanda
The process of the destruction of the cohabitation of the various population
groups in Rwanda continued from the great massacre in 1959 until
1994. For thirty-five years, and open development of hatred continued.
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