United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022, Online Edition. Estimates 2021.
Proportion of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 years experiencing intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) [Rwanda], Ministry of Health (MOH) [Rwanda], and ICF. 2021. Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20 Final Report. Kigali, Rwanda, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NISR and ICF.
Proportion of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 years experiencing intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence in the last 12 months. Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) [Rwanda], Ministry of Health (MOH) [Rwanda], and ICF. 2021. Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20 Final Report. Kigali, Rwanda, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NISR and ICF.
(1) Enhance its efforts to firmly combat all forms of gender-based violence against women, including domestic and sexual violence, paying particular attention to disadvantaged groups; (2) In cooperation with civil society, take additional educational measures, targeted at the public of all ages, to dismantle the main underlying cause of gender-based violence against women, namely predominant societal patriarchal attitudes about the roles of women in society and the relationships between women and men, which further undermine the human rights of women under the guise of “family protection”; (3) Take measures to encourage victims to report gender-based violence against women, including by launching awareness-raising campaigns targeted at the public and women and girls in particular, to dismantle the stigma attached to victims and foster understanding of the importance of upholding the human rights of women; (4) Accelerate the increase in the number of Isange One Stop Centres, as planned, particularly in rural areas, to provide women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence and their children with access to long-term shelter and relocation possibilities, as well as financial support and access to income-generating opportunities; (5) Ensure that reports of gender-based violence are effectively investigated and prosecuted and that perpetrators are adequately punished, and increase the funds allocated to victim assistance; (6) Accelerate the revision of the Penal Code currently in progress and increase the penalty for marital rape provided in paragraph 199 to harmonize it with the penalty for rape provided in paragraph 197; (7) Amend Law No. 59/2008 on the prevention and punishment of gender-based violence to decriminalize the victims' refusal to testify against perpetrators; (8) Establish a system of standardized collection and analysis of data on gender-based violence against women to understand its magnitude, trends and patterns and use such data as the basis for comprehensive measures and targeted interventions; (9) Based on the results of its current evaluation, renew the National Strategic Plan (2011-2016) for the implementation of the National Policy against Gender-based Violence. Gender-based violence against women in conflict situations (1) Establish a commission of inquiry, consisting of both national and international commissioners mandated to investigate all allegations against members of the armed forces, and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and receive sanctions commensurate with their acts and that victims have access to adequate and effective reparations; (2) Monitor the implementation of the code of conduct for members of the armed forces and strengthen regular training and retraining on women's rights and on applying a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of gender-based violence against women.
The Committee draws the State party's attention to general recommendation No. 29 (2013) on the economic consequences of marriage, family relations and their dissolution. While recommending that the State party continue to encourage the regularization of marriage and to discourage the practice of polygamy, which is contrary to the Convention and the dignity of women and girls, it also recommends that the State party ensure legal protection of the economic rights of women in non-formal unions.
(1) Address the root causes of trafficking in women and their exploitation in sexual slavery and prostitution by increasing efforts to improve their economic situation; (2) Strengthen measures to protect potential victims from trafficking, including by stepping up campaigns to promote a common understanding of the phenomenon of trafficking, set up a 24/7 free hotline and encourage reporting by victims and the general public; (3) Increase the human, technical and financial resources allocated to the investigation, prosecution and punishment of traffickers.
Law 59 on Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence (2008)
National Policy Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) 2011
The law determining offenses and penalties (2018, amended in 2023)
Law 59 on Prevention and Punishment of Gender-Based Violence (2008), art 24
Labour law 2018, article 8
The law determining offenses and penalties (2018, amended in 2023). Article 5 and 19 of the law n°59/2008 of 10/09/2008 on prevention and punishment of gender-based violence provide punishment for “conjugal rape”. However, a lesser penalty for “conjugal rape” is provided under article 19 of Law No. 59/2008 on the prevention and punishment of gender-based violence, than that for the crime of rape under article 134 of Law No. 68/2018 on offences and penalties in general.
Family law 2024
However, 18 may also accepted subject to reasonable grounds.
Family Law, article 197
Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF): is the primary government body responsible for promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women and families in Rwanda. It oversees policies and programs related to gender-based violence (GBV) and supports survivors of violence.
Rwanda Gender Monitoring Office (GMO): The GMO is mandated to monitor the respect of Gender Equality principles, promote gender accountability at all levels and fight against Gender-Based Violence and related injustices.
Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB): investigates cases of GBV and collects and maintains data on reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV), including detailed information on investigations, arrests, and prosecutions related to violence against women.
GBV units and desks are available in the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), which is charged with crime investigation, and in the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), which prosecutes cases before Courts.
Number of GBV cases prosecuted and pronounced from July 2019 through June 2023
NPPA, Activity reports for the Financial Years 2019-2020 through 2022-2023, as reported in the Beijing+30 Rwanda Country Report, June 2024
There are 3 main organizations providing legal aid services (Legal Aid Forum, Rwanda Bar Association, HAGURUKA). In addition, Government-established Access to Justice Bureaus (Maison d’Accèss a la Justice – MAJ) at the district level (providing services to 2,219 women between 2019 and 2022.
The Rwanda National Police collects administrative data on police responses and services provided to women survivors of violence.
The Rwanda National Police established Gender Desks in police stations across the country handling GBV cases.
Rwanda has a standardized curriculum to train law enforcement professionals to respond effectively to incidents of violence against women and girls. This training is part of the country's broader strategy to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
Also, the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Justice and its partners, organize yearly capacity-building sessions for all Abunzi committees across the country.
Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) also organizes consistently capacity building interventions to different GBV service providers.
The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion in collaboration with Rwanda Investigation Bureau have established a GBVIMS to track and record GBV data especially in the Isange One stop Centers.
Number of victims of GBV and child abuse supported in IOSCs since 2019
Number of GBV victims reported to the health facilities between 2021-2022. Of these 51% were victims of sexual violence, 40% were victims of physical violence and of all victims 44% were under 18 years of age.