Rwanda

Thrive

Jun 21, 20212 min read

Population size: 

12.9 million [1]

Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:

20.7% of women in last 12 months, 37.1% lifetime. [2]

No research on male victims or other gender identities.

Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:

No research.

Estimated % change due to COVID-19:

No research.

Current law and policy

Rwanda has committed to the eradication of GBV in all forms. Furthermore, President Paul Kagame is one of 10 Heads of State who are global impact champions for HeForShe.[3]

At the Kigali International conference declaration command post exercise in 2015 President Paul Kagame denounced violence against women and girls and called for intensive efforts to fight against it.  [4]

Whilst there is no explicit law on domestic violence, protection is codified in a wider law on gender-based violence (Law no. 59/2008) [5]. Rwanda ratified the Maputo protocol and violence against women in Rwanda is broadly addressed by the 2008 law and its accompanying national policy against gender-based violence. [6]

Other protective initiatives include arranging anti GBV clubs in schools and the introduction of GBV committees in communities, aiming to improve people’s knowledge about their rights and to secure reporting of Inter Partner Violence. Integrated services (i.e. medical care, psycho-social support, access to legal support and aid, and emergency accommodation for a few days) are available in Isange One-Stop Centres. [7]

Frontline Services: