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    Summary of country programme

    Rwanda stands out both in Africa and globally for its efforts in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, and particularly in the area of political participation. Nearly two third (61%) of its parliamentary seats and 55% of cabinet position is held by women, while 4 out of 7 judges in supreme court are women. Significant progress has also been realized on other gender indicators, and in 2022, Rwanda is ranked among top 10 countries (6th globally) that have significantly narrowed gender gap (Global Gender Gap Index, 2022). Globally, the country took the lead on the Generation equality action coalition on ICT and innovation and committed to closing the digital gender divide by 2026. Despite a progressive policy and legislative framework, gender-based violence remains widespread where 46% of women have ever experienced intimate partner violence. Isange One-stop Centers Model was set up around the country to provide a holistic response to victims and survivors of GBV. 

    UN Women Rwanda works in three areas: 

    • Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems at local and national levels 

    • Women have equal economic opportunities and economic autonomy 

    • Women and girls live a life free from violence 

    Planned Budget (Total) Other resources (non-core)
    Country Indexes

    UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements

    View annual report narratives for the year

    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

    In 2024, UN Women Rwanda �s strategic partnerships with the Government, UN system, CSOs and other partners, contributed to the transformation of negative social norms and stereotypes, creating enabling environments for advancing women and girls� rights and empowerment. Building on previous years� efforts in evidence-based advocacy informed by findings from UN Women commissioned assessments and studies, significant progress was made in legislative advancements for gender equality in Rwanda. A key part of this success is the integration of unpaid care in the National Male Engage strategy. UN Women provided policy advice, financial and technical support to finalize the Men Engaged Strategy. With further support from the CO, a dissemination plan was developed with key messages on gender equality, including men sharing domestic work. Transformed men and couples now champion unpaid care work redistribution, ending violence against women, and promote women's empowerment in their communities. UN Women through strategic partners with Legal Aid Forum (LAF), Rwanda Men Resource Centre and Action Aid among others also advocated for the inclusion of Unpaid Care Work in Rwanda�s new family law, adopted in June 2024. In its article 175, the law states that the value of unpaid care work carried out by one of the spouses or both is calculated between 10% and 39% of the property earned since their cohabitation after deducting the debts they contracted after the marriage. Evidence from LAF attest that this article is already informing and transforming judicial processes as lawyers are using it in courts to defend clients-mostly women in allocating property to couples in divorce cases. Again, with more Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDs) advocated for and supported by UN Women under the 3R programme, 584 women were able to work out their homes and increased their incomes and livelihoods. Furthermore, capacity building and advocacy efforts through community and national-level campaigns targeting government institutions, private sector, and CSOs helped challenge social norms and promoted positive masculinity. These efforts encouraged greater male engagement in gender equality, fostering respectful relationships and increased legal literacy. This shift is reflected a rise in the reporting of gender-based violence cases including teen pregnancies, which increased from 22,055 in 2023 to 22,454 in 2024, demonstrating heightened awareness and trust in the justice system. To address challenges in legal aid and access to justice for GBV victims, UN Women through its partners- LAF and HAGURUKA, led the development of the National Legal Aid Policy now awaiting cabinet approval. This policy will strengthen legal aid services and access to justice for GBV victims. Additionally, legal aid and access to justice have been integrated into the Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector Strategic Plan, prioritizing it as a critical pillar of the national justice system.

    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements

    Rwanda has taken significant steps to mainstream gender in national policies, strategies, planning and budgeting processes and establishing a dedicated National Gender Machinery. However, gains in gender equality risk being lost, or progress retarded if concerted efforts do not address persistent issues such as negative societal norms that perpetuate barriers for women and girls� access to equal opportunities in social and economic spheres. UN Women continues to work toward addressing negative gender stereotypes, harmful social norms and gender-based violence that hold back women in Rwanda from achieving their full potential and venturing into historically male-dominated domains such as the extractive industry which is one of the primary economic contributing sectors to Rwanda's economic growth. As such, UN Women forged a strategic partnership with Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU), an umbrella organization of a Rwandan trade union which organizes all workers in mining and quarry companies and cooperatives in Rwanda since 2014. This has resulted in new employment opportunities for the women and girls of Rwanda, especially those in Muhanga and Gakenke districts which are the prominent mining districts. A baseline study on sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the mining sector in Rwanda was conducted which helped to initiate evidence-based advocacy and awareness raising on sexual harassment, women�s rights and GBV prevention and response in the extractive sector. A combination of initiatives to enhance women�s rights in mining and awareness raising through different channels including TV and radio programmes as well as face-to-face awareness-raising sessions resulted in an improved working environment in the sector. For instance, Rwanda Mining Board set a policy whereby Anti GBV committees are mandatory in each mine and quarry company/cooperative. Furthermore, a license renewal of a mining company is approved on condition of having shown how discrimination against women and girls at the workplace is addressed, as well as having an inclusive recruitment policy. 12 companies and cooperatives have installed suggestion boxes related to sexual harassment and GBV reporting at the workplace. Consequently, 576 women have broken the gender stereotypes and negative social norms and joined the mining and quarries sector in Muhanga and Gakenke districts in less than a year.The above intervention is in line with SDG goal 5 and target 5.1 �End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere� as well as Target 5.2� Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation�. It also contributes to the UNSDCF 2019-2024, outcome 4: �By 2024, people in Rwanda particularly the most vulnerable have increased resilience to both natural and man-made shocks and enjoy a life free from all forms of violence and discrimination.�

    Results and resources

    Impact: All women and girls in Cameroon will fully enjoy and exercise their human rights, in a gender equal society, and meaningfully contribute to the country's sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integration

    Impact

    All women and girls in Cameroon will fully enjoy and exercise their human rights, in a gender equal society, and meaningfully contribute to the country's sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integrations

    Outcomes (aligned with interagency frameworks)
    RWA_D_1.1

    A diverse cohort of women leaders is formed to lead in governance at local and national level

    RWA_D_1.1.1

    Women’s capacity to compete for leadership positions and to lead decision making processes at local and national level strengthened

    RWA_D_1.1.3

    Organizational capacities, outreach and convening power of networks that promote women's leadership and participation in decision making organs enhanced

    RWA_D_1.2

    Women are perceived as equally legitimate and effective leaders as men throughout all spheres of society

    RWA_D_1.2.1

    Community awareness of gender equality and civic understanding of women’s right to equal participation in decision making increased.

    RWA_D_1.2.2

    Enhanced capacity of media and educational institutions to propagate gender equality as social goal and positively portray women’s leadership

    RWA_D_1.2.3

    Individual and networks of men and boys, women and girls mobilized in favor of gender equality and respectful relationships

    RWA_D_1.3

    Implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment commitments strengthened at national and local levels

    RWA_D_1.3.1

    National Gender Machinery Institutions’ capacity to coordinate and oversee gender mainstreaming at national and local level strengthened

    RWA_D_1.3.3

    Capacities to execute gender-responsive development strategies, sector strategies, district development plans and budgets by Government institutions at national and local levels increased

    RWA_D_2.1

    New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets

    RWA_D_2.1.1

    Women have enhanced skills and access to finance and markets to leverage business opportunities

    RWA_D_2.1.2

    Women’s capacity and opportunities to access remunerated off-farm employment increased

    RWA_D_2.1.3

    Corporate sector actors demonstrate increased understanding of and commitment to implement gender equality and women’s empowerment practices

    RWA_D_2.3

    Women farmers and cooperatives’ engagement in higher segments of the food and agricultural value chains is increased

    RWA_D_2.3.1

    Women agripreneurs’ access to productive and transformative inputs, technologies and services strengthened

    RWA_D_2.3.2

    Women farmers benefit from dedicated production and marketing platforms linking them to national, regional and international supply chains

    RWA_D_3.1

    Communities and other stakeholders are better able to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and deliver essential services to victims

    RWA_D_3.1.1

    Increased awareness among communities to prevent and respond to S/GBV including available services (health, social, justice, economic)

    RWA_D_3.1.2

    Strengthened capacity of relevant institutions /service providers to provide quality services to S/GBV victims

    RWA_D_3.1.3

    Strengthened capacity of relevant institutions /service providers to provide quality services to S/GBV victims

    RWA_D_3.2

    Attitudes and behaviours related to women's and girl's rights to enjoy spaces free from VAW improved

    RWA_D_3.2.1

    Women and girls, men and boys at community level are mobilized in favour of respectful relationships, gender equality and safety in public spaces

    RWA_D_3.2.2

    Transformative initiatives on GBV in public spaces developed and integrated into formal operating frameworks and procedures to increase safety for women and girls, men and boys

    Organizational effectiveness and efficiency
    RWA_O_1

    SP OEE Outcome Area 5: Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services, and processes

    RWA_O_2

    SP OEE Outcome Area 4: Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture: With its unique and inclusive culture, UN-Women is an employer of choice with a diverse and highly performing cadre of personnel that embodies UN values.

    RWA_O_3

    Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance:

    RWA_O_4

    Advancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale:

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    Budget
    Expenses
    Outcome Result statement IATI identifier
    OutcomeRWA_D_1.1
    Outcome result statementEffective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes.
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_1.1
    OutcomeRWA_D_1.2
    Outcome result statementAssuring an accountable organization through principled performance
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_1.2
    OutcomeRWA_D_1.3
    Outcome result statementAdvancing partnerships and resourcing
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_1.3
    OutcomeRWA_D_2.1
    Outcome result statementAdvancing business transformation
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_2.1
    OutcomeRWA_D_2.3
    Outcome result statementNurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_2.3
    OutcomeRWA_D_3.1
    Outcome result statementEffective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services, and processes
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_3.1
    OutcomeRWA_D_3.2
    Outcome result statementSP OEE Outcome Area 1: Effective products, services and normative, programmatic and coordination processes: UN Women efficiently and effectively fulfills all institutional processes that promote the integrated execution of its normative, programmatic, and coordination mandate at headquarters, regional, and national levels; including through shared services.
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_3.2
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    Budget
    Expenses
    Outcome Result statement IATI identifier
    OutcomeRWA_O_1
    Outcome result statementSP OEE Outcome Area 5: Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services, and processes
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_1
    OutcomeRWA_O_2
    Outcome result statementSP OEE Outcome Area 4: Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture: With its unique and inclusive culture, UN-Women is an employer of choice with a diverse and highly performing cadre of personnel that embodies UN values.
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_2
    OutcomeRWA_O_3
    Outcome result statementAssuring an accountable organization through principled performance:
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_3
    OutcomeRWA_O_4
    Outcome result statementAdvancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale:
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_4
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    Resources allocated towards SDGs

    View SDG data for

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    Our funding partners contributions

    Regular resources (core)

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    $773.93 K in total
    Other resources (non-core)
    $8.55 M in total
    Regular resources (core)

    Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

    $773.93 K in total
    2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) $88,786
    2023
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$88,786
    Development:$88,786(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $88,786
    2022
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$88,786
    Development:$88,786(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $193,000
    2021
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$193,000
    Development:$193,000(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $91,463
    2020
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$91,463
    Development:$91,463(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $311,894
    2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$311,894
    Development:$311,894(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    2023
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$88,786
    Total contribution$88,786
    Development$88,786(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2022
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$88,786
    Total contribution$88,786
    Development$88,786(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2021
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$193,000
    Total contribution$193,000
    Development$193,000(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2020
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$91,463
    Total contribution$91,463
    Development$91,463(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$311,894
    Total contribution$311,894
    Development$311,894(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Other resources (non-core)

    Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

    $8.55 M in total
    2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) $24,484
    2023
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$24,484
    Development:$24,484(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $24,484
    2022
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$24,484
    Development:$24,484(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $65,843
    2021
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$65,843
    Development:$65,843(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $43,635
    2020
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$43,635
    Development:$43,635(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $261,545
    2019
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$261,545
    Development:$261,545(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office $760,824
    2023
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$760,824
    Development:$760,824(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $760,824
    2022
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$760,824
    Development:$760,824(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $677,279
    2021
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$677,279
    Development:$677,279(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $583,898
    2020
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$583,898
    Development:$583,898(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $492,679
    2019
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$492,679
    Development:$492,679(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    Japan --
    2023
    No data available
    --
    2022
    No data available
    $158,770
    2021
    JapanOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$158,770
    Development:$158,770(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $46,207
    2020
    JapanOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$46,207
    Development:$46,207(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Peacebuilding Fund --
    2023
    No data available
    --
    2022
    No data available
    $199,114
    2021
    Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$199,114
    Development:$199,114(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $274,520
    2020
    Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$274,520
    Development:$274,520(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Switzerland $250,557
    2023
    SwitzerlandOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$250,557
    Development:$250,557(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $250,557
    2022
    SwitzerlandOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$250,557
    Development:$250,557(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $369,830
    2021
    SwitzerlandOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$369,830
    Development:$369,830(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $482,589
    2020
    SwitzerlandOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$482,589
    Development:$482,589(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Unilever $113,029
    2023
    UnileverPrivate sector
    Total contribution:$113,029
    Development:$113,029(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $113,029
    2022
    UnileverPrivate sector
    Total contribution:$113,029
    Development:$113,029(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $223,052
    2021
    UnileverPrivate sector
    Total contribution:$223,052
    Development:$223,052(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $41,013
    2020
    UnileverPrivate sector
    Total contribution:$41,013
    Development:$41,013(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Canada $765,410
    2023
    CanadaOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$765,410
    Development:$765,410(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $765,410
    2022
    CanadaOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$765,410
    Development:$765,410(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $126,161
    2021
    CanadaOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$126,161
    Development:$126,161(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse $146,892
    2023
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office ReponseUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$146,892
    Development:$146,892(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $146,892
    2022
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office ReponseUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$146,892
    Development:$146,892(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $385,359
    2021
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office ReponseUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$385,359
    Development:$385,359(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    2023
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$24,484
    Total contribution$24,484
    Development$24,484(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$760,824
    Total contribution$760,824
    Development$760,824(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Switzerland$250,557
    Total contribution$250,557
    Development$250,557(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Unilever$113,029
    Total contribution$113,029
    Development$113,029(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Canada$765,410
    Total contribution$765,410
    Development$765,410(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse$146,892
    Total contribution$146,892
    Development$146,892(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2022
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$24,484
    Total contribution$24,484
    Development$24,484(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$760,824
    Total contribution$760,824
    Development$760,824(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Switzerland$250,557
    Total contribution$250,557
    Development$250,557(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Unilever$113,029
    Total contribution$113,029
    Development$113,029(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Canada$765,410
    Total contribution$765,410
    Development$765,410(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse$146,892
    Total contribution$146,892
    Development$146,892(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2021
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$65,843
    Total contribution$65,843
    Development$65,843(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$677,279
    Total contribution$677,279
    Development$677,279(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Japan$158,770
    Total contribution$158,770
    Development$158,770(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Peacebuilding Fund$199,114
    Total contribution$199,114
    Development$199,114(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Switzerland$369,830
    Total contribution$369,830
    Development$369,830(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Unilever$223,052
    Total contribution$223,052
    Development$223,052(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Canada$126,161
    Total contribution$126,161
    Development$126,161(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Office Reponse$385,359
    Total contribution$385,359
    Development$385,359(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2020
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$43,635
    Total contribution$43,635
    Development$43,635(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$583,898
    Total contribution$583,898
    Development$583,898(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Japan$46,207
    Total contribution$46,207
    Development$46,207(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Peacebuilding Fund$274,520
    Total contribution$274,520
    Development$274,520(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Switzerland$482,589
    Total contribution$482,589
    Development$482,589(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Unilever$41,013
    Total contribution$41,013
    Development$41,013(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2019
    Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)$261,545
    Total contribution$261,545
    Development$261,545(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$492,679
    Total contribution$492,679
    Development$492,679(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
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    Strategic plan contributions

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