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Veneranda Nzambazamariya

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Veneranda Nzambazamariya
Born(1957-08-27)August 27, 1957
Rwanda
DiedJanuary 30, 2000(2000-01-30) (aged 42)
Cote d'Ivoire[1]
AwardsMillennium Peace Prize for Women

Veneranda Nzambazamariya was born in Rwanda on August 8, 1957 and died on January 30, 2000. While details about her early life are limited, she pursued education and became involved in civil society organizations, which influenced her work in promoting gender equality and peacebuilding (Burnet, 2008).[2]

Nzambazamariya was known for connecting people from different backgrounds, which became significant during Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery. Her work reflected a commitment to fostering dialogue and inclusivity. She also mentored younger generations, emphasizing the importance of education and civic engagement in building a more equitable society (Burnet, 2008; Pro-Femmes, n.d.).[2] Nzambazamariya was a women's leader in Rwanda. She was posthumously awarded the Millennium Peace Prize for Women.[3][4]

Humanitarian Work

As previously stated, Nzambazamariya was known for facilitating connections with people from various backgrounds, and her humanitarian work throughout her lifetime further exemplified this narrative. Nzambazamariya was immensely passionate about extending kindness and support to others in need, and her multiple works helped support several widows, orphans, and displaced persons in post-genocide Rwanda. As president of Pro-Femmes, she oversaw microcredit programs, agricultural cooperatives, and literacy training to promote economic empowerment and social reintegration for women[2].

Nzambazamirya was a founding member of Reseau de Femmes and Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, two women's organizations in her home in Rwanda[2]. Nzambazamariya was also a committed Women's Committee for Peace and Development member. Additionally, Nzambazamirya dedicated her life to empowering women politically and economically and aspired to reconstruct Rwanda's laws and infrastructures that economically, politically, and socially disproportionately affected women[5].

Awards

The Millennium Peace Prize for Women.[3][4], established in 2001, was an initiative to honor women who made significant contributions to peace-building and conflict resolution worldwide. This prize was organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, now UN Women). It highlighted the often-overlooked role of women in promoting peace, addressing violence, and rebuilding communities in post-conflict settings.

Nzambazamariya became the first recipient of the Millennium Peace Prize for Women. The award celebrated her visionary leadership in fostering reconciliation, particularly through Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe’s "Campaign Action for Peace." This initiative mobilized women to take active roles in conflict resolution and the Gacaca courts, reshaping traditional gender roles in Rwanda[6][7].

Her work exemplified the transformative power of grassroots efforts in post-conflict settings, inspiring future global frameworks for gender-inclusive peace-building[8].

Death and Legacy

Kenya Airways Flight 431: Veneranda Nzambazamariya shortly passed away on this flight due to its crash.

Veneranda Nzambazamariya passed away on January 30, 2000, in the Kenya Airways Flight 431 crash near Côte d'Ivoire[9]. Her death marked a profound loss for Rwanda and the global peacebuilding community. As the president of Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe—a coalition of Rwandan women's organizations—Nzambazamariya was instrumental in uniting women across social and ethnic divides during Rwanda’s post-genocide reconstruction. Her leadership emphasized reconciliation, grassroots development, and the inclusion of women in peace building efforts, leaving an enduring legacy in Rwanda’s gender-inclusive governance model[9][2] .

Nzambazamariya’s work continued to be recognized after her death. She was pivotal in creating sustainable peace through community-driven initiatives, inspiring future generations to prioritize reconciliation and equality. Her contributions were formally honored posthumously with a major international award for peace and women's leadership[7].

References

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  1. ^ Hule, Jermoe (2001-03-08). "Rwanda: Late Rwandan Woman Wins UN Agency Peace Prize". All Africa. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e Burnet, Jennie E. (2008-07-01). "Gender Balance and the Meanings of Women in Governance in Post-Genocide Rwanda". African Affairs. 107 (428): 361–386. doi:10.1093/afraf/adn024. ISSN 0001-9909. Cite error: The named reference ":3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "2001 Peace Prize Recipients - Biography - Veneranda Nzambazamariya". United Nations. 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-10-31. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Century of Women" (PDF). Victory Over Violence. 2010. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  5. ^ http://vov.com/files/exhibitions/Building-A-Culture-Of-Peace.pdf
  6. ^ "Press Briefing by UN Development Fund For Women on Millennium Peace Prize | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". press.un.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  7. ^ a b staff, CBSNews com staff CBSNews com (2001-03-09). "U.N. Awards Women Peacemakers - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  8. ^ Burnet, Jennie E. (2008-05-28). "Gender Balance and the Meanings of Women in Governance in Post-Genocide Rwanda". African Affairs. 107 (428): 361–386 – via Oxford Academic.
  9. ^ a b Mwambari, David (2019-12-23). "Leadership Emergence in Post-Genocide Rwanda: The role of Women in Peacebuilding". Leadership and Developing Societies. 2 (1): 88–104 – via ResearchGate.


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