‘My aunt, protect me’ – A message from a youth for the next CHOGM*

However, I trust that as a community youth activist; a role you enjoy voluntarily, your spirit is undeterred as you spearhead advocacy for access to sexual reproductive health services for the marginalised girls in that flat land.’. I see you spreading the message on access to family planning services; sanitary pads, STIs screening to the enthusiastic audience under the Umunyinya tree.

My friend, there is a lot of unusual traffic in Kigali these days. There are a lot of visitors, many driving fancy cars, while others walking in pairs!  Sometimes, we have to give priority of usage to visiting dignitaries, and go about our business later, but we are all going to the same future anyway! The visitors in town, are here to talk, eat and board aircrafts back to the sky. The roads are closed and opened at unexpected times.

We are living in fast changing times here. City buildings are glittering with a new coat of paint. The streets are spotless- with no single litter, as it has always been, but there is now there has been abit of face-lift. There is a breath of fresh air.  It is indeed a good time to be living in this decent city.

My friend, the global leaders are among the many people in our town, they are feeding on the food you harvested. Even the Prince of Wales, carrying the message of the Queen of England is here with his royal entourage. Renown world sports leaders and Hollywood stars are also here. We have all danced together under the shield of the night.

During this busy time in our city, I managed to attend the two-days Commonwealth Women’s Forum which is part of the series of meetings during CHOGM. It offered me a chance to meet with people from all walks of life the dignitaries and engage with global leaders to discuss among other things; why there is still a low investment in disability programming, gender-based violence, and discrimination in various forms. We went ahead to engage on the threats to inclusion and equality, challenges faced by women and girls and vulnerable groups in their hope for a fair, free and equal society.

Kamikazi, as I sat down in the CHOGM conference room, the words of Danielle Coke can summarize my sentiments.

‘’You were created to do good work. Work that empowers and inspires, liberates, and transforms, restores and softens. Yes, work can be hard, as it is meant to be. Rejecting passivity and demanding sustained effort. It provokes, agitates, and disturbs. But this work- the call for justice- is good work.  It defends the oppressed and frees the captive. It tears down the walls and destroys the barriers. It changes things’’

We sang a common chorus, using the English language of delivering a Common Future: “Transforming for Gender Equality, this interested me so much and spent sleepless nights, why now!”

Imagine, this meeting acknowledged the UN Women’s review of progress since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 and reaffirmed the concerns of discrimination faced by women and girls in every town, village and home (including your own village in Nyagatare) in Rwanda.

They recognised that women and girls are still underrepresented in decision-making processes, including in situations of conflict and crisis, environmental-related disasters, and humanitarian settings; and they are disproportionately affected by poverty.

So be aware that, the struggle is still on, as a young girl, you have to start participating in the decision-making processes and endeavour to reach your goals as I’ve always known you. You give me hope because your conviction regarding girls’ empowerment is unwavering. The CHOGM meeting was exciting, which is why I am sharing the titbits. The discussions all ensured that you would have lasting peace as a girl. My attendance in CHOGM affirmed that society should not ignore your contribution to your community.

While contemplating how I should amplify the need for the intersectional lenses in addressing issues of minoritized youths, and inclusion, the Rwanda Television picked me up for an interview on how best we can shape an inclusive society, how we envisage a free society devoid of discrimination against girls.

I know so well that you face unwavering risks in day-to-day life, you need to overcome the myth of qualification, the endless narrative that, girls should be told what they deserve and have no right about their bodies. It is nothing but harassment and has grave consequences. Social norms engrained in our societal beliefs and entrenched by patriarchy in place which you have always voiced your concerns which were echoed in the hall of CHOGM meeting.

The negative gender norms and customs; regressive gender roles, perceptions, family type culture, culture identity, women’s time burden all of which have shaped your life path and strengthened your curiosity and strengthened your gender equality opinions;

During this meeting, I heard that in pursuit of SDGs 10 (reduced inequalities) and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), the Dignitaries committed to fully implement laws that promote and protect inclusion; to eliminate discriminatory laws, policies and practices;

However, noting from your enthusiasm this is a call to action from the youth rather than being invited to meetings with great speeches but little to show for. However, I am watching the space, hoping  young people will receive the platform to create real change, the change they want to see.

The price of violence and discrimination against weaker groups of people in society is too high and increases day by day being exacerbated by war or conflict in some parts of the Common Wealth; girls and women carry the majority of domestic work burden; are exposed to gender-based violence, including being affected by conflict-related sexual violence; and make up the majority of victims of sexual exploitation, and harmful practices, both online and offline. All these issues are still prevalent before you as you grow up, let us hold our breath, that meetings like CHOGM will be the catalyst torch bearers for change we all wish to see for gender equality.

Finally, CHOGM affirmed to me and inspired me to tell you that nobody will give you what you want or what you need if you don’t stand up. I now will embark to amplifying the voices for access to health services making gains individually, making a small contribution through an Intersectional Program- MAKE WAY, which seeks to leave no one behind in accessing SRH and health services and empowering the youth including those sexually discriminated and those living with disabilities.

I will let you continue with your humble work, my friend. I hope the weather treats you well.

*Leaders of more than fifty Commonwealth nations gathered in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the official opening of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

**Kamikazi is a Rwandan name of a girl who will be a future queen- she represents girls who wishes to be saucerful.