Rwanda: Ending Violence against Women

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) negatively affects women and girls’ general well being and prevents them from fully participating in different spheres of society. It impacts their families, their community, and the economy at large.  Despite legislative advances, GBV remains pervasive and a daily reality in the lives of many women and girls in Rwanda. Many women and girls have experienced multiple and intersecting forms of violence and oppression including intimate partner violence, sexual violence and early and forced marriage. UN Women’s work in GBV prevention and response is informed by a transformative, rights-based, and survivor-centered approach which entails concerted and coordinated action with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that women and girls lead a life free from violence.

We are working to create a safer community for women and girls by: a) prevention strategies that address the root causes of inequality and GBV; b) engaging legislators to pass tougher laws; c) strengthening the capacities of institutions to mitigate GBV; and d) by equipping women and girls and particularly the most vulnerable with the knowledge and information to speak up, claim their rights and obtain assistance when they need it; e) supporting the production and availability of quality disaggregated data on prevalence of GBV; and access to coordinated, survivor-centered, comprehensive, quality and affordable services.