Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) - Rwanda
- Rwanda
- Resources
- Capacity Building
- Empowerment
- Empowerment
Quick information guide
Instruments promoting women empowerment
- National Constitution, 2003
provides for higher levels of representation to previously marginalized groups such as women
- Vision 2020
This is the Rwanda’s development road map that was developed in 2000. It situates human development for both men and women as one of the main pillars of the nation’s development.
- Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS)
This strategy aims at achieving equity of voice, participation, and accessibility to services in every sector; including enactment and implementation of gender responsive laws
- The National Decentralisation Policy
This Policy underlines the commitment of the Rwandan government to empower all Rwandans to determine their destiny.
- Long-Term Investment Framework
This framework recognises the gender issue as a cross-cutting dimension to be mainstreamed into all investment programs for a successful implementation of these programs.
For More information
Gender Institutional Mechanisms
A number of institutions have been put in place to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the various empowerment programmes initiated by the Government of Rwanda. Those institutions include:
- Ministry in Charge of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF);
- Gender Monitoring Office; and
- National Women’s Council
Note: Under the coordination of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the month of March is dedicated to women empowerment activities.
Women Empowerment Programmes in Rwanda
Rwanda offers an encouraging example of how post-conflict countries can seize the reform momentum and support women’s empowerment.
The Women’ s Voices in Rwanda reports that 82% of women in business in Rwanda are engaged in retail sector, with 16% -17% in services sector and 1% -2% in the manufacturing sector.The reports show that business women in Rwanda are increasingly branching out into non traditional sectors such as information and communication technologies (ICTS) and Fuel.
Rwanda has put in place various initiatives to promote women empowerment in all sectors.
Some key women empowerment initiatives in place
Rwanda has initiated a holistic approach to make sure that women are empowered and protected. A number of facilities and frameworks have been put in place to support the implementation of each initiative for more impact. Below are some of the key initiatives with facilities and frameworks:
Fighting Violence Against Women
- Establishment of One stop centers for GBV survivors care
- National strategic plan on UN Resolution 1325 developed
- Promulgation of law preventing and punishing Gender Based Violence
- Gender Desk in Rwanda National Police with Free hotline
- Men’s association (RWAMREC) that sensitizes the population to eradicate gender based violence
Women economic empowerment
- Matrimonial Law, 1999 gives to women the same rights of succession as men;
- Land Organic Law, 2005 provides for equal access to land for both men and women;
- Labour law, 2009;
- Establishment of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Umurenge SACCOs) in each sector
- Creation of People’s Bank for Women’s Promotion (Banque Populaire pour la Promotion Féminine) ;
- Women’s association supported to initiate Savings and Credit Cooperative «COOPEDU»
- Existence of “DUTERIMBERE”; - Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs in Private Sector Federation (PSF);
Poverty Reduction
- Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy developed (EDPRS (Vision 2020). Strategy provides for sensitive budgeting in all Government interventions
Access to Education
- Girls’ education Policy and its strategic plan set in place
- FAWE Awards for girls to encourage them
- One laptop per child in support to science and technology benefiting both boys and girls
Access to Health
- Reproductive Health Policy is in place
Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN)
| About RWN | |
| Services provided by RWN
| The RWN offers medical services, with the main focus areas being gender-based violence, HIV/Aids, mental and reproductive health. Health lays the foundation for the clients to be able to fully participate in the other complimentary services in a holistic approach. The approach to health management equips the women to lead positive and productive lives. |
| Education and knowledge sharing; build women's capacity to claim their rights through increasing their access to information on different issues includes human and legal rights as well as facilitation of formal, informal and vocational training. | |
| 3. Social-economic Empowerment Among Rwanda Women Network’s important complimentary activities include improving socio-economic welfare of the women through capacity building and promoting voluntary saving towards the formation of grassroots savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOS). This includes grant-making for start-ups in small and medium businesses. Income generating activities increase their responsiveness and effectiveness in addressing their health concerns. Support includes improving the welfare of vulnerable and orphaned children (OVC), some of whom receive educational support, vocational training and psycho social support | |
| 4. Governance and Accountability Empower women and vulnerable groups to take up leadership roles and actively participate in governance and policy making through creating spaces for policy dialogue and leadership skills training. | |
| 5. Gender Based Violence Prevention Improve GBV prevention and response through activism to reflection and critical thinking on gender relations and power, awareness raising on human rights and existing registration, providing psychosocial support and safe spaces for victims and survivors along with referral services. | |
| Networking and advocacy forms one of RWN’s important activities, as it articulates RWN activities and promotes linkages between Rwandan women and regional and international programs and/or organizations. | |
| Requirements for women to benefit | Victims of gender based violence, poor households, vulnerable children, work with organized groups, focus is women but reach out to men and families in general for sustainable changes in women’s and family lives and for gender equality |
| Public events that benefit women
| Civic education events at community level, FEM Dialogues, Discussions on SDGs, Regular sessions on different women’s rights and gender equality issues at Women Safe Spaces run by RWN at the community level |
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Contacts | Rwanda Women NetworkKagugu, Mucyo Estate KG 54, off KG 482 – Kinyinya Sector (Near SOS Technical School) |