SPEAK OUT PROGRAMME 

Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Gender Based Violence

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One in three Rwandan women have been abused by male relatives - sexual abuse, hitting and economic deprivation are the dominant forms of violence. Sexual abuse of children is critical, 80% of all victims of sexual abuse are under 18 and 88% of teenage mothers surveyed have suffered from sexual abuse. (UNDP Study).

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Speak Out or "Tinyuka Uvuge" is a program which aims to tackle all form of Gender based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Our mission is to empower women and girls in Rwanda to be free from violence and feel empowered to utilize their voice to exercise their rights. We aim to reduce the acceptability of violence among vulnerable communities, particularly implementing Speak out in 4 districts, Karongi, Nyanza, Gisagara and Nyaruguru by providing women and girls with necessary skills and education to stand against GBV. Beneficiaries are provided with improved knowledge, confidence and leadership skills and opportunities, and support to mobilize themselves to fight for an environment that is free from violence.

 

Targeting the roots of the issue to achieve our goals

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We work to counter and dismantle patriarchal structures, attitudes, and behaviours and to transform unequal power relations to combat VAWG. The issue of gender inequality and GBV still persists because it is embedded in patriarchy as a system that accords more value to boys than girls in the community. Although, Rwanda is a leading country in Gender equality in government, with women holding majority of parliamentary positions; and laws and policies exist in Rwanda that promote equality and denounce VAWG, these policies have yet to be operationalized and enforced at local level and within vulnerable communities. We work with men to challenge gender roles and and shift social attitudes and practices that often manifest in various forms of gender based violence.

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The Speak Out project will work with 5,600 girls and 2,800 boys aged between 9 and 18 years, utilizing safe spaces and mentors aged 18-25 for the duration of 4 years. We also realized the importance and power women’s organizations have in impacting vulnerable communities around these issues, but yet do not have the necessary resources to fully support this cause. Where we come in, is we support 14 women’s organization in 7 sectors, by providing training, support, tools, modules, and human and financial resources.

 

This increases willingness, confidence and ability to report, respond and prevent cases of violence, while also combating stigmatizations around GBV.Our mission will be achieved through the utilization of a fully holistic and intersectional approach, with girls and women’s organizations at the heart, working in collaboration with community members, leaders, men and duty bearers to bring about a process of change and a call to action for communities as a whole to fight against Violence Against Women and Girls.

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This program is funded by UK Aid Direct, and is implemented in partnership with ActionAid Rwanda, Rwanda Victory Association and Association des Guides du Rwanda.

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