Project Summary of “Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Rwanda” by UNABU: Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga

Project title: Eliminating Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Rwanda 

Organization: UNABU: Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga (The Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities in English) 

Country: Rwanda 

Budget: $203,749 

Project implementation period: 1 September 2018–31 August 2021 (no-cost extension until 28 February 2022) 

This paper summarizes the three-year project implemented by the civil society organization UNABU: Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga (The Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities in English) with a small grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.  

The project aimed to reduce economic and sexual violence against women and girls living with disabilities in five districts of Rwanda by: empowering women and girls; increasing their awareness of their rights and confidence; and empowering them to become active agents in reporting violence and requesting proper protection, while also having more appropriate multisectoral services at their disposal whose providers are equipped with knowledge and skills to properly work with women and girls living with disabilities. 

Key findings 

The project: 

• improved the relationship, mutual support and solidarity of women and girls living with disabilities through volunteer outreach and self-advocacy groups;
• improved the understanding of intersectionality of disability and violence, including self-confidence among women beyond the project scale, increasing their willingness to report violence;
• made significant contributions to the historic increase in women and girls with disabilities in local government leadership;
• and contributed to addressing sexual violence against women and girls living with disabilities by improving inclusive service provision that considered the needs of women and girls living with disabilities.  

Legacy 

The findings and lessons learned from the project provide vital knowledge for other practitioners and partners working to end violence against women and girls. The project's outcomes are also informing the next stage of the project and contributing to raising awareness for sustained investment in UNABU and its efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls living with disabilities, while promoting gender equality in Rwanda.