Outcome 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

The Government of Rwanda’s commitment to GBV prevention and response is evident through various efforts aimed at increasing community and stakeholder understanding of GBV prevention and response and are better able to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and deliver essential services to victims. Within this framework, UN Women, in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Rwanda National Police, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Ministry of Sports, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), the Rwanda Media Council (RMC), the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), the University of Rwanda, has contributed significantly to community, youth, media, and local leaders’ engagement in addressing negative social norms and fostering behavior change. These efforts have enhanced the capacity of stakeholders and community members to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (S/GBV), thereby promoting transformative societal change towards gender equality and the eradication of GBV. Through strategic partnerships with MIGEPROF and a broad coalition of stakeholders, UN Women has strengthened community engagement and increased media coverage of GBV, driving public awareness and empowering individuals and institutions to take action. As such, UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), enhanced the capacity of 50 media professionals to improve their coverage of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in the online space. The media professionals who benefited from the training included chief editors, heads of media houses, and YouTubers. The training, supported by experts from institutions such as the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Rwanda Media Council (RMC), Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), and the University of Rwanda, resulted in a significant shift in how GBV is reported equipped participants with valuable skills to ensure that their reporting increased public awareness and understanding of GBV without exacerbating victim trauma. The training also emphasized the importance of ethical journalism in GBV coverage, teaching media professionals to challenge gender stereotypes and avoid re-victimization of survivors. This capacity-building initiative led to media representatives committing to several key actions to improve GBV reporting, including the establishment of gender desks within media houses, empowering female journalists with greater access to GBV-related information, and advocating for the coordination of resources and actions among stakeholders. These resolutions contribute to a more professional and responsive media landscape in addressing GBV, fostering a deeper commitment to the prevention and response to violence through informed and sensitive reporting practices. As a direct outcome of this initiative, trained media professionals have significantly contributed to raising awareness and advocating for gender equality and GBV prevention and response. This has been evident in the production of a variety of gender-sensitive articles that have amplified the conversation around these critical issues. Furthermore, UN Women has enhanced the capacity of institutions to respond to S/GBV and empowered adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through strategic partnerships and initiatives aligned with national efforts to strengthen Rwanda's overall response to GBV. In collaboration with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), 54 nurses from 45 hospitals hosting Isange One Stop Centers (IOSCs) have received training in forensic examination, evidence collection, and trauma-informed care, thereby improving the quality of care delivered to S/GBV survivors. UN Women also partnered with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) to develop a comprehensive, costed operational plan for the AGYW program, designed to reduce HIV infections and unintended pregnancies. Underpinned by a robust multisectoral monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, this plan ensures evidence-based decision-making for future programming.

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

The Government of Rwanda’s commitment to GBV Prevention and response is reflected in various government efforts to increase community and other stakeholders' understanding of GBV Prevention and response. It is in this framework that UN Women in partnership with different key stakeholders namely Rwanda National Police, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Sports, gender monitoring office, and Haguruka and Rwanda Women’s network have contributed to community, youth, media, and local leaders’ engagement toward addressing negative social norms and behavior change. and embrace a positive attitude, timely report or and refer cases of GBV to relevant GBV service providers for proper case management. In addition, with UN Women support, GBV service providers (the multidisciplinary team at IOSCs and investigators, paralegals) have gained the capacity to effectively handle GBV cases as a result GBV victims have benefited from different services including legal aid support, socioeconomic reintegration, psychosocial and protection in the safe shelters. In terms of Leaving No One Behind, mobile GBV clinics are an efficient mean and approach to reach the most vulnerable and marginalized groups including those in remote areas without financial means to afford transport, awareness of their rights and/or available support services as well as women with disabilities. By using 15 mobile clinics, have reached more than 712 rights holders (509 females and 203 males) and helped to increase accountability among GBV service providers at both national and local levels as well as provide timely response to GBV cases. Furthermore, community-based monitoring and reporting tools were developed by UN Women in collaboration with Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion to strengthen the capacity of institutions to respond effectively to GBV and HIV/AIDS-related issues with respect to leaving no one behind principle. In terms of building on the use of tools targeting female sex workers and adolescent girls and young women victims of GBV, 20 healthcare providers and peer educators were skilled in screening, referrals, and monitoring the quality of services rendered to girls and women at the community level and by health center facilities. 1451 female sex workers and 76 Adolescent Girls and Young Women benefitted from these services.

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

UN Women made strong progress in 2022 in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls by supporting communities and relevant stakeholder to efficiently deliver essential services to victims. As such, with UN Women support, more than 850,000 individuals from the community and mining sector improved their knowledge and awareness of GBV prevention and response including legal literacy, available GBV services, reporting mechanisms, prevention of harmful practices and promotion of positive masculinities as well as special protection to women and girls with disabilities. This was achieved using different mutually reinforcing mechanisms and approaches that included mobile clinics to increase the proximity of GBV services to the community, community outreach campaigns including the 16 days of activism, mass sports, Radio and TV Programmes as well as the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. In addition, UN Women in collaboration with Rwanda Bar Association convened '' a consultative policy dialogue on GBV Prevention and Response in Rwanda: From Policy to Practice'' which offered an opportunity to share experiences, good practices but also challenges and recommendations for decision making in relation to GBV prevention and response. The dialogue brought together different key stakeholders working in the area of gender equality, and prevention and response to GBV namely Government institutions such as the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, National Public Prosecution Authority, Rwanda Investigation Bureau, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Gender Monitoring Office, Rwanda Correctional Service, Rwanda National Police, UN Agencies, the Rwanda Bar Association and its members, CSOs and media practitioners among others. Consequently, the policy dialogue resulted in 21 recommendations that would ensure effective GBV prevention and response in Rwanda, and UN Women has committed to supporting their implementation and follow-up. In addition, 2818 GBV service providers have enhanced their capacity through UN Women's support in collaboration with Rwanda Investigation Bureau and different NGOs/CSOs namely Rwanda Women's Network, and Reseau des femmes which helped GBV victims to get effective support with dignity (victim-centered and human rights-based support). These service providers are composed of local community structures and local government leaders, youth volunteers, and local security organs. Moreover, thanks to the operationalization of 4 GBV shelters and Isange One stop centres safe rooms through UN Women support in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, 448 GBV victims (416 Females and 32 Males) benefited from the provision of safe accommodation, protection and comprehensive support including medical-legal and psychosocial support which helped them to restore their hope of life and esteem. Furthermore, community-based monitoring and reporting tools were developed by UN Women in collaboration with Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion to strengthen the capacity of institutions to respond effectively to GBV and HIV/AIDS-related issues with respect to leaving no one behind principle. In terms of building on the use of tools targeting female sex workers and adolescent girls and young women victims of GBV, 90 peer educators that include 50 Female Sex Workers and 40 Adolescent Girls and Young Women were skilled in screening, referrals, and monitoring the quality of services rendered to girls and women at the community level and by health center facilities.

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

The Government of Rwanda remains committed to GBV Prevention and response and this is reflected by various government efforts to increase community and other stakeholders' understanding of GBV Prevention and response. In this framework UN Women in partnership with different key stakeholders namely Rwanda religious leaders, Rwanda National Police, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, gender monitoring office, and Haguruka have contributed to community, youth, media, and local leaders’ engagement toward negative social norms and behavior change and embrace a positive attitude, timely report or and refer cases of GBV to relevant GBV service providers for proper case management. In addition, with UN Women support, GBV service providers (the multidisciplinary team at IOSCs and investigators, paralegals) have gained the capacity to effectively handle GBV cases as a result more than 13,000 GBV victims have benefited from different services including legal aid support, socioeconomic reintegration, psychosocial and protection in the safe shelters. In terms of Leaving No One Behind, mobile GBV clinics are an efficient mean and approach to reach the most vulnerable and marginalized groups including those in remote areas without financial means to afford transport, awareness of their rights and/or available support services as well as women with disabilities. By using 44 mobile clinics, have reached more than 780 rightsholders in 3 districts of Rwanda (Nyanza, Gasabo, Musanze, Nyamasheke and Kayonza) and helped to increase accountability among GBV service providers at both national and local levels as well as timely response to GBV cases.