Godeliève Mukasarasi Quotes

It's very important to work with these women because they have undergone many atrocities during the genocide, and like other women and other humans, they have a right to live.

Rwandan women have played a big role to make sure that sexual violence in conflict became known as a crime against humanity, for us to be in the U.N. is a way of recognizing the hard work and what we have done.

There is role play, which helps to better understand their situation and solve current problems.

Everyone still lives with the consequences. Some of the perpetrators went to jail, but they come back and live close to the survivors. The genocide is not over; the survivors are still living with those who committed the crimes.

The women live scattered all over the country, and many had never left their village before coming to the forum. The group setting helps them to better understand their own situation.

There are consequences of sexual violence in conflicts. The first is HIV and AIDS, [but also] kids who are born from rape, unwanted pregnancies.

We must learn how to live positively with the bad and good.

Our forums encourage the women to take their fate into their own hands and find inner peace, in spite of the humiliation and violence they have suffered.

The important thing is to make sure the U.N. creates another resolution to support the kids who are born from rape. If they are really working hard to prevent such things happening it has to be there. because it’s still happening in other parts of the world.

We were proud because we had an impact, not only nationally but on the international scale, as well.

The women’s daily life is marked by worries and difficulties, so we need to reduce stress levels. And we teach them a simple and soothing massage method they can always apply themselves.

We also want to encourage them to tell their children the truth. Doing so is hard, but it helps the women to really opt for life, including the life of their child.

I wanted the widows and orphans, as well as other distressed people, to adjust. I wanted them to restart their shattered and broken lives and work toward peace and the development of our country.

We have been demanding a special fund for these children and their mothers, but so far, the government remains stubborn.

Many women do not even know that children have rights. Moreover, there is time for singing, dancing and praying.