Perceptions of the Implementation of Women's Rights in Post-Genocide Rwanda

In 1994 an estimated 800,000 people of Rwanda, the majority Tutsi, were murdered in a state-sponsored genocide. Women suffered disproportionately. When the genocide ended, more than 70 percent of the Rwandan population was female and 50 percent of all households were headed by women. Despite their w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers (Boulder) 2024-05, Vol.45 (2), p.183-207
Main Author: King, Régine Uwibereyeho
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colonialism
Developing countries
Equal rights
Equality
Feminism
Gender equity
Genocide
Globalization
Heteronormativity
International agreements
LDCs
LGBTQ people
Murders & murder attempts
Non-binary gender
Pilot projects
Postcolonialism
Transnationalism
Women
Womens rights
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Summary:In 1994 an estimated 800,000 people of Rwanda, the majority Tutsi, were murdered in a state-sponsored genocide. Women suffered disproportionately. When the genocide ended, more than 70 percent of the Rwandan population was female and 50 percent of all households were headed by women. Despite their woundedness, women stepped up to rebuild a new Rwanda in which gender equality and women's rights were negotiated. The government of Rwanda recognized their efforts and used the international agreements of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals to integrate gender equality and women's rights into its Vision 2020 strategy. Questions arise about how these rights have been implemented and translated into day-to-day lives of ordinary Rwandans, specifically women. This paper presents the results of a qualitative pilot study that sought to explore how Rwandans understand women's rights and their implementation at the community level. A total of 37 women and men (32 and 5 respectively) contributed to focus groups and individual interview data. The findings indicate that women possess capacities to spearhead socioeconomic projects when they have strong and supportive social networks, modern infrastructure with accessible technology, and good governance. Rwandan women are also a heterogenous group with varying needs. Gender diverse women, such as poor single mothers and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons may need specific laws and policies to protect their rights as marginalized groups. The support and role modeling of other women may specifically be useful with rural women to overcome intersecting and persistent inequities. Implications for each of these findings are discussed for policy, research, and practice.
ISSN:0160-9009
1536-0334
1536-0334
DOI:10.1353/fro.2024.a935661