Outcome RWA_D_3.2

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

In 2024, UN Women, through strategic collaborations with ActionAid Rwanda, Nyaruguru District, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, and other stakeholders, made significant progress in improving attitudes and behaviors related to women's and girls’ rights to enjoy spaces free from violence against women (VAW), addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and negative social norms. A total of 101 educators and district officials gained essential skills to challenge harmful gender stereotypes, foster proactive community engagement, and GBV case, reporting. These efforts represent a key turning point in shifting local attitudes and behaviors toward greater gender equality. One of the most impactful outcomes was the creation of the “Gender Champions of Nyaruguru District” alumni group. This group, with its tailored action plan, plays a pivotal role in sustaining long-term, community-driven efforts to prevent GBV and nurture respectful relationships. Furthermore, the strengthened coordination between educators, district authorities, and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau will continue to enhance both GBV prevention and response systems. These early achievements are a strong foundation for building a future where gender equality is consistently promoted and violence against women is eradicated.

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

In 2022, UN Women made significant progress in improving attitudes and behaviors related to women's and girls’ rights to enjoy spaces free from VAW. To increase the safety for women and girls including women living with disability in public spaces, UN Women in collaboration with the Association of Women Living with Disabilities (UNABU) and Youth Association for Human Rights Promotion and Development (AJPRODHO) secured a commitment to protecting women and girls, especially women street vendors and those living with disabilities who are the most vulnerable and most of the time marginalized. The commitment was from 115 local security structures such as Police, District Administration Security Support Organ (DASSO), Community night patrol (IRONDO) as well as 30 men pioneers, and youth volunteers. This commitment resulted from capacity enhancement sessions which helped the local security organs to improve their skills and knowledge in the prevention of and response to sexual harassment and GBV in urban public spaces, especially for women and girls with disability including their special security needs and protection. In addition, community awareness of the prevention of and response to sexual harassment and GBV in public spaces including women's and girls’ rights was improved using men engage approaches and men’s pioneers/advocates. This resulted from awareness and capacity enhancement sessions for 30 men composed of husbands of women living with disabilities and fathers of girls with disabilities on GBV prevention and response. These men committed to becoming champions of gender and GBV and formed a group of advocates to cascade the knowledge and awareness acquired. Subsequently, through these champions, community engagements were organized with the aim of preventing and responding to GBV at the community level which helped to increase awareness and secured positive behaviors from 769 people (362 Men and 407 women) during 16 days of activism.

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

The approach taken by UN Women and its partners to foster attitudes and behavioral change in favor of rural and urban safe spaces, has been proven to be a powerful tool for women and girls’ safety in public places. The attitudes and behavioral change followed a two-pronged approach: Firstly, by screening the institutional and multi-stakeholders’ compliance to gender equality and women's safety in public spaces, secondary by producing guidelines and awareness on the prevention and response of gender-based violence in public spaces. During the reporting year, the most significant results have been the local stakeholder’s engagement which grew much stronger. It motivated key actors such as local authorities (Districts and Sectors senior leadership) who have owned the sustainability of the gains achieved, beyond the duration of UN Women supported results. UN Women supported guidance and knowledge products including the Women’s Safety Audit and the Strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in public spaces. These documents have become the all the time reference used by local stakeholders, men and women working in public spaces.

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

Activities under this outcome were not implemented in 2023.