"I wanted the widows and orphans, as well as other distressed people, to adjust. I wanted them to restart their shattered and broken lives and work toward peace and the development of our country."

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

"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."

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

"Now more than ever do we as a destination need to position ourselves to support the recovery of the sector, by applying our collective efforts to align with trends and measures that support us all during these challenging times,"

"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."

"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."

"There are consequences of sexual violence in conflicts. The first is HIV and AIDS, [but also] kids who are born from rape, unwanted pregnancies."

"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."

"Having Ironman 70.3 in Rwanda is really exciting. The milestone is going to give a lot of visibility to the race destination. It is a unique opportunity for us, both in sports and business aspects."

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

"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."

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

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

"Many women do not even know that children have rights. Moreover, there is time for singing, dancing and praying."

"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."

"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."

"This leadership instilled hope and equal opportunity. The vision of the leadership that picked up all the pieces set a path for me and so many others to be where we are."

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

"Everyone still lives with the consequences. Some of the perpetrators went to jail, but they come back and live close to the survivors. The genocide is not over; the survivors are still living with those who committed the crimes."

"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."

"In general, the women did not speak about rape because of shame as well as fear of becoming marginalized or someone taking revenge."

"Trusting in yourself doesn’t make you complacent, it’s courage that elevates your talent to the next level. As the ministry and other stakeholders, we are here to support you."

"It is not easy to expose oneself to other people’s suffering again and again. One has to learn to draw a line."

"I had voices telling me you cannot make it."

"Issues of sexual reproductive health continue to be a major challenge in Africa, especially issues that regard safe abortions, where there are issues brought about by religion, patriarchy, culture among other aspects."

"We continue to see women miss out on human rights due to lack of due attention."

"We need to have men understand gender equality and cease to be oppressors and perpetrators. This will increase the involvement of human rights affairs."

"Gender rights and women rights ought to be understood and implemented holistically. You cannot ask women what right to have; they should enjoy all rights, rights to their reproductive health, leadership, education, food among other rights."

"In Rwanda, there is good political will in terms of gender equality and women’s rights thanks to the President who advances women’s rights and is a believer in gender equality."

"Actually in most countries, women wish to get half of what Rwanda has."

"My work looks to indigenous fruit, aesthetics and beliefs from the Global South, where conquerors literally carried seeds of wealth. I aspire to give shape to the possibilities of blackness by creating space for self-reflection"

"When we see African Union putting women rights at the centre of their deliberations, it has taken our push and advocacy over previous years."

"For us girls, there were no praises, just criticism"

"As African women, we don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations. We too can question the status quo"

"I’m a human being; there isn’t any number of cows that will determine my value"

"It’s always important for me to emphasize that prevention is something all individuals can participate in… We all have the power to bring about positive change in our world and in our communities… You have to show up and…you have to vote for those ideas that respect diversity...and human rights"

"I used to hurry shots, but nothing is rushing me anymore because they (the opponents) still believe I can't shoot. That’s something I worked on in the summer."

"It’s possible to question cultural practices if they don’t align with our values"

"It’s like the feeling when you work so hard for something and you finally achieve it. It feels like whew."

"We were able to make them take hard shots, and take away what they wanted to do."

"I’ve just been very calm, and catching the ball and looking."

"Never underestimate your gift or talent - develop it and make use of it to the fullest."

"My passion and determination for art, textile printing and business has opened doors to a number of opportunities."

"Even though they have lost everything, they still keep their role as a mother, as the caretaker of the household."

"The women still have a strong sense of purpose, which makes it easier for them to start their lives here."

"From her birth on a Rwandan hill to her current life in Germany. She tries to recount the appalling wound of the genocide in order to overcome the terrible guilty feeling about: "Why did I survive?"

"Alone, you are just by yourself, but together you can be strong again."

"with or without the fec or without the sacred sacred fire."

"I begun accepting the fate allotted to me when I encountered in Rwanda, the one with whom I was to share my life for 23 years and who became the father of my children. I was then aged 18 and had never left my homeland."