Godeliève Mukasarasi Quotes

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.

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

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.

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.

In 1998, women’s rights activists like us managed to make sure that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda considers rape in war a genocidal crime, so those who planned and perpetrated such violence can be prosecuted.

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

In our view, finding peace within oneself is a precondition for society-wide peace. I’m not saying we do no longer demand justice and want criminals to be prosecuted, but ultimately, we want reconciliation.

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.

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.

We feel we are the ones who are able to speak out and…to be a voice for them.

Thanks to the proceedings, many people were able to find the bodies of their dead and bury them.

It was a tough time, but I still tried to work with them because they also needed to live, and to live in peace.

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.

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

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