On the website, Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre wrote, “Today Kenya is experiencing an unprecedented wave of sexual violence that has been directed at thousands of Kenyan women, girls and a number of men and boys as a result of the post election crisis. As men, we recognize that violence against women and the girl child affects men as well as those who care for the family, the community and the nation. We recognize that men and male leaders have an important role to play in stopping gender based violence and acting as role models for other men. Today, we are joining our voices to denounce gender-based violence in Kenya and to publicly commit ourselves to working in active solidarity with women and NGOs struggling to end the ongoing gender-based violence in the conflict that has gripped Kenya. As men, we call upon other men and male leaders to publicly speak out, and to join in this global call to protect Kenyan women and children, to sign this petition”. 

The response has been overwhelming: “In the beginning, I was expecting to have 100 signatures from Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region, but I was surprised to see how people around the world are concerned by the Kenyan crisis and how they are speaking out against gender based violence in Kenya. So it’s really a coincidence to see how the petition has drawn response from all over the world.  However, I also believe in the strengths of the media and believe that many people are very sensitive to violence,” said Rutayisire. 

Messages of solidarity came from Australia, to the US and even all over Africa and Kenya, men responded with such passion on why Sexual and Gender based Violence should be stopped in Kenya.

Some of the response reads as follows;  from Italy, Munazi Muhimanyi Cyprien wrote, “ It is a shame  to Kenya and the entire African Continent that a so called responsible Government in Kenya, in a contemporary developing Africa and modern society as a whole, remains indifferent to the on-going gender based violence on its beautiful territory, yet, part to international agreements on human rights, while at the same time they are well aware of best practices of State management and democratic principles”.

MUKAMUDENGE Zubeda from Rwanda said, “Its a big shame for us who have been through these conflicts to watch what is happening in Kenya, lets stand by each other, respect our diversities and especially understand that our differences are not there to tear us apart but to enjoy the diversity. lets say NO to violance based on Gender, together we can.”

Martin Dufresne, from Canada said, “ Kenya could become a leader among countries by implementing substantive action for gender justice, supporting grass-roots feminist organizations, efficiently sanctioning sexist abusers and furthering education work with programs defined by women and where male providers will remain accountable to feminist leadership. We are hopeful KenyaAfrica and throughout the world will choose this route and become a model in ”.

John O'Leary, Connecticut  wrote, “Dear Kenyan leaders, Please stop the sexual attacks and other forms of violence against women and girls in Kenya. Stopping this violence against women will demonstrate real masculinity and be a positive message for future generations of Kenyans and all human beings. This violence must stop for it harms all humanity. Not just in Kenya but here in the USA and everywhere on the planet.”

In total there are over 380 responses from all over the world and the list is growing by the day. Fidel said that any programme that is geared related to gender-based violence (GBV) must address and include all members of the community, including men.

Anonymous, Rwanda wrote, “Fellow brothers, stop behaving like animals, don’t kill your brothers because of ethnic belonging, please don't rape women, this is the worst action against women so that your victim will never forget your face in her mind as I was told by a woman victim of sexual abuse.”

However, he is still skeptical that even though lessons are many to be learnt the problem is that people do not use them to improve the future of the population. He recommends that the Government of Kenya and Kenya civil society organizations should send  some Kenyans to Rwanda to learn conflict management after such a crisis since Rwanda is doing well on that front. 

In 2004, the Government of Rwanda officially established a gender desk within the police to focus on the prevention of GBV and  provide assistance to victims. The Police are already registering a marked increase in numbers of GBV cases reported and interventions made. 

This demonstrates that the Government of Rwanda is committed to promoting gender equality and equity for equitable and sustainable development as it is reflected in its commitment in implementing international conventions and principles (as enshrined in the MDG 3 - on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and  its vision 2020). 

There are also a number of government institutions and NGOs that are actively involved in preventing gender based violence. For instance, the Draft Law on the Prevention, Protection and Punishment of Any Gender Based Violence was prepared by the Forum for Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP).  

He said that men play a significant role in helping to end GBV in their various roles. Men commit most of the violence, so it is up to them to stop it.  They have a vital responsibility on their peers’ pervasive behaviors and GBV can end if men are fully engaged in peer education and serve as watchdogs of their peers.  

Therefore what  his organization is  trying to do  is to strive to have a peaceful society where women and men share roles and responsibilities of raising families and governing society with equality and respect. He said, women should know that the battle against GBV is a long process that requires everyone’s efforts. 

His passionate appeal to women is:  “Please stand up and speak out against GBV every where starting in your own families. The secret is to partner with men as they are valuable partners in fighting against gender based violence. Let your slogan be, working hand in hand with men, all of us will stop violence.” 

From someone who was born in the eastern part of the Democratic  Republic of  Congo in a rural area called Masisi.  Rutayisire grew up in a lower middle class and Christian family. “My parents are still alive. I have six brothers and two sisters. My dad is a teacher and my mom is a business village woman.” 

His experience in the civil society has prepared him well for his current work: “I worked in different human rights organizations before I and eight colleagues founded Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre. I am a gender sensitive man and passionate human rights activist who hates any form of social injustice.” 

Talking passionately about his involvement in the GBV, he said: “At primary school, I experienced a sad case of a teacher who raped his girl student. In my large family, I have seen the negative effects faced by women and their children who lived in never-ending violence inflicted by their husbands. We all have to work together to address the causes and enable men to rise above their old history and become the good people they can be. GBV is still a major public health and human rights problem throughout the world.” 

And through his organisation’s work, the Rwanda CSOs and that of the  Government of Rwanda the country now has a strong commitment to promote gender equality and equity through the establishment of the Ministry of gender and family promotion (MIGEPROF). The enactment of the law on matrimonial regimes, liberalities and succession to promote women’s rights in 1999 was another big step in promoting women’s rights in Rwanda. Furthermore gender budgeting was taken into account from 2002 to ensure that the government considers gender issues in all development programs.  The Government of Rwanda has also ratified all major international human rights treaties and conventions and reinforced its commitment to implementing international agreements such as the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the consensus at various United Nations conferences such as the Conference on Women, held in Beijing. 

That is why for him, rallying the world to speak on the GBV in Kenya was like an extension of his work. He said, “As a leader of an organization working to prevent gender-based violence and as human being and Human rights activist, Fidel was worried about the wider scale and the continued post-election violence in Kenya.  

The Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC)  which is behind the petition was founded in October 2006 by like-minded men with different experiences in gender and other social disciplines in response to alarming cases of Gender based violence and in response to proactive policies and strategies of the government to mainstream gender as one of the pillars for the social-economic development of Rwanda. 

The organisation since then is geared towards involving and mainstreaming the role of men in the fight against gender based violence (GBV). 

Being  a membership organization the membership is drawn from interested men who share the vision of eliminating Gender Based Violence.