A delegation of Ukrainian women leaders from The Day After visited Rwanda to learn from its post-war recovery. They engaged with Rwandan officials and civil society to advocate for women’s involvement in rebuilding Ukraine. The visit highlighted lessons around justice, unity, and the crucial role of women’s participation in peacebuilding initiatives.
A group of Ukrainian women leaders from various sectors, under the foundation The Day After, completed a five-day visit to Rwanda to learn from its post-war recovery and women’s roles in peacebuilding. Their objective is to advocate for women’s involvement in rebuilding Ukraine amidst the ongoing war with Russia, which has lasted three years. They aim to foster partnerships with NGOs and local communities to actively include women in recovery efforts.
During their visit, the six-member delegation met with Rwandan parliamentarians, civil society leaders, and visited significant sites, such as Avega Agahozo Village and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. They gained a deep understanding of Rwanda’s recovery process from the traumatic events of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which devastated the nation and required significant rebuilding efforts led by the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF).
Reflecting on their experiences, the delegation discussed key lessons with The New Times, emphasizing the importance of Rwanda’s history and development. Alina Miakenka, co-founder of The Day After, articulated her interest in justice and forgiveness, stating her newfound perspective on these complex themes. She praised Rwanda’s Gacaca courts for their role in reconciliation and stressed the need for Ukraine to develop solutions tailored to its context, emphasizing unity at all societal levels as a hallmark of Rwanda’s recovery.
Miakenka highlighted Rwanda’s remarkable women’s leadership, asserting that women must actively participate in decision-making processes. She noted that equipping women for leadership roles is crucial for peacebuilding efforts. Upon returning to Ukraine, the team intends to draft policy papers and engage with various stakeholders to enhance women’s roles in the reconstruction process.
Anna Nikolaienko, also a co-founder, reflected on Rwanda’s high representation of women in politics, recognizing universal human development tools that can contribute to peacebuilding. She acknowledged the commonalities of suffering between Ukraine and Rwanda but emphasized the need for internal reconciliation. Nikolaienko also remarked on the vital inclusion mechanisms in Rwanda that are actively implemented, contrasting her previous perception of peacebuilding as solely focused on national agreements.
Moreover, Iryna Drobovych brought attention to the shared patterns of war crimes, especially against women, in both conflicts. She emphasized the need to document these crimes to ensure justice, advocating for international mechanisms to address issues that traditional legal systems often overlook. Drobovych underscored the necessity for discussions around sensitive topics, particularly those related to the mental health and reintegration of women affected by war violence.
The delegation’s visit to Rwanda provided invaluable insights into the mechanisms of post-war recovery and the essential roles of women in rebuilding efforts. The leaders emerged with a renewed commitment to advocate for women’s participation in Ukraine’s recovery process, recognizing the importance of unity and tailored solutions rooted in their history. Their reflections underscore a significant understanding that peacebuilding extends beyond policy to encompass community engagement and personal connections.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
