Solange Ayanone

"Due to biological transformation forces especially at puberty period, children may find it difficult to abstain from sex. It is very important for parents to advise them to use a condom which will save them early and unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)."

"You better advise them to use a condom instead of isolating them after they have conceived."

"I buy condoms and place them in my room where they can access them but I don’t tell them anything. The following morning, I realize that they come and pick them."

"You cannot be held hostage of Rwandan culture when life of your children is at stake."

"What journalists do is in the interest of citizens and therefore citizens who access the information can contribute to media development through deducting a small fee from taxes they pay."

"The new policy should guide how social media should be regulated."

"The media is doing a lot to educate citizens at the time of the pandemic but if nothing is done to support it to remain resilient, it will be difficult for media houses to remain operational."

"The media has proved that it can be among the essential services the country needs even at the time of pandemics like the current one."

"It has been therefore proven that journalism is an essential service like those other services which are vital for society even when everything came to a standstill. It will be crucial for the government to consider this sector for a stimulus package to sustain it."

"We did not have many women who reported on political affairs, but because they used to see me do it – I did it for many years (about six or seven) – they felt motivated."

"It is a talk show that makes me happy when I see women who are doing it including Scovia Mutesi, and Ines Ghislaine Nyinawumuntu, daring to ask leaders questions."

"Apart from that, I also made progress in livelihoods through the media. Now, I own a media company – AFRI-MEDIA Ltd (which I started in 2010) – which I am proud of."

"Challenges that existed in the past include that journalism was considered a profession for men."

"Overall, the then society applied a label to a woman who was in the media, because of the nature of this job – a woman who does not live at home, who even goes to work during weekends and nights."

"Though progress was made, there is still a gender gap, especially in media managerial positions where you find that women’s representation is still low."

"There are over 30 radios and over 10 TV stations in Rwanda, but only two TV stations were either founded or co-founded by women. This helps to paint a picture of the state of a woman in the media."

"Again, you realise that the number of female journalists is smaller than that of their male counterparts."

"There is also another challenge that is more reported than in the past – sexual harassment – the way women in the media are sexually harassed."

"I think that Women Deliver Conference is a good occasion to discuss the challenges affecting women in the media and building advocacy so that they are addressed."