Domestic abuse, sexual assault and rape

7.2.14 In response to the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Rwanda, Canada, Italy and Sweden were among several states to commend Rwanda on steps on gender equality¹⁷¹.

7.2.15 In their 2019-2022 Gender Equality Strategy, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

‘Since the devastating 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has emerged as an impressive story of transformation in Africa. Guided by successive national medium-term plans and comprehensive policy reforms over the last two decades, the country has achieved remarkable

socioeconomic progress.

‘Among many other areas, this has been demonstrated by a more than three-fold increase in per capita gross domestic product (from $206 in 2002 to $729 in 2016) and major advances in health, education, social protection, unity and reconciliation.

‘Rwanda has, equally, become a pioneer and a role model for its dedication to, and progress made on gender equality and women’s empowerment. In fact, Rwanda is one of the global leaders in gender equality progress.’¹⁷² 7.2.16 The same report highlighted an earlier (2017) World Economic Forum (WEF)

report which ranked Rwanda as the fourth best country in closing gender gaps¹⁷³.

Back to Contents 7.3 Freedom of movement for women

7.3.1 The OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index, citing various sources, stated: ‘Under the Identity Card Law (2008b, Art. 11) and Ministerial Order 3/1: Regulations and Procedures for Implementing Nationality Law (2011, Art. 17), men and women and have the same rights to apply for identity cards and passports, regardless of marital status. The law provides women with the same rights as men to acquire passports for their minor children (Rwanda, 2011, Art. 17). As per Article 23 of the Constitution, every

Rwandan has the right to leave and to return to the country, and there are no gender-biased restrictions on freedom of movement enshrined in the law.’ ¹⁷⁴ 7.3.2 The USSD Human Rights report 2020 stated: ‘The constitution and law

provide for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.’¹⁷⁵

Back to Contents Section 8 updated: 24 March 2022

8.1.1 The OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI), citing various sources, stated: ‘… GBV remains pervasive, as it is widely accepted by the society as a result of entrenched traditional patriarchal norms … Although reporting rates for GBV cases have increased as a result of the

government’s prevention and protection efforts, it remains under-reported due to victims’ fear of stigma, retaliation, and women’s economic

dependence on the perpetrator …’ ¹⁷⁶

8.1.2 USSD report 2020 stated: ‘Domestic violence against women and children remained common. CSOs and NGOs reported this trend appeared to increase during COVID-19, although precise data was unavailable.

Authorities encouraged reporting of domestic violence cases, although most incidents remained within the extended family and were not reported or prosecuted.’ ¹⁷⁷

8.1.3 The Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) 2019-20,

implemented by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH) made several key findings:

• ‘Spousal violence: 46% of married women and 18% of ever-married men have experienced spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence.

• ‘Trends in spousal violence: The prevalence of any spousal violence among ever-married women increased from 40% in 2014-15 to 46% in 2019-20 but declined slightly from 20% to 18% among men over the same period.

• ‘Injuries due to spousal violence: 41% of ever-married women and 39% of ever-married men who have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence have sustained injuries.

• ‘Help seeking: 40% of women and 38% of men who have experienced physical or sexual violence have never sought help to stop the violence or told someone about it; only 43% of women and 40% of men have sought help. The most common sources of help are neighbors and family members.’¹⁷⁸

8.1.4 The table below compiled using data from the 2 most recent RDH surveys shows the percentage of women age 15-49 who have experienced physical violence since age 15^179,180:

Ever experienced physical violence

Ever experienced sexual violence

2014/15 2019/2020 2015/15 2019/2020

Female 34.5% 37% 22.4% 22.5%

176 OECD ‘Social Institutions and Gender Index’, 2019

177 USSD, 2020 Human Rights report (section 6), March 2021

178 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2019/2020’ (page 285), September 2021

179 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2019/2020’ (page 285), September 2021

180 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2014/2015 (page 270), March 2016

8.1.5 The table below, compiled using data from the 2 most recent RDH surveys, shows the percentage of women age 15-49 who have experienced physical violence since age 15, according to background characteristics: age,

residence, province and marital status.

Background characteristic 2014/15 2019/20 Age

15-19 24.4 21.8

20-24 28.1 33.2

25-29 35.4 38.7

30-39 39.6 43.2

40-49 43.4 45.1

Residence

Urban 35.0 32.9

Rural 34.4 37.6

Province

City of Kigali 35.8 34.8

South 32.2 38.2

West 33.6 39.0

North 37.3 37.7

East 35.2 34.2

Marital status

Never married 22.4 23.4

Married or living together 39.2 41.6 Divorced/separated/widowed 54.2 64.4

Total 34.5 36.7

Total number of women 2679 2788

8.1.6 The table below, compiled using data from the 2 most recent Rwandan Demographic and Health Surveys, shows the percentage of women age 15-49 who have reported experiencing physical violence since age 15 who report specific persons who committed the violence by marital status of respondent¹⁸¹¹⁸².:

Person Ever

married 2014/15

Never married 2014/15

Ever married 2019/20

Never married 2019/20 Current

husband/partner

57.5 - 59.9 -

Former

husband/partner

27.4 - 26.9 -

Current boyfriend 0.0 0.8 0.4 1.8

Former boyfriend 1.2 4.0 1.0 3.5

Father/stepfather 6.3 17.4 1.2 1.8

181 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2019/2020’ (page 296), September 2021

182 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2014/2015’ (page 270), March 2016

Mother/stepmother 3.3 20.3 9.5 41.5

Brother/sister 4.3 18.7 5.8 16.8

Other relative 5.8 8.2 2.9 7.0

Teacher 2.8 21.2 2.6 23.4

Police/soldiers 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.6

Other 6.6 21.4 7.0 12.9

8.1.7 The above data shows that ever married women report their current husband or partner and former husband or partner as the most common perpetrator of violence, 59.9% and 26.9 % respectively for 2019/20 survey and 57.5% and 27.4% from the 2014/15 survey. With never married women most often reporting their mother/stepmother (42%) and teacher (23%) as perpetrators of the violence¹⁸³¹⁸⁴.

8.1.8 Among women and men who have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence and sought help, the most common sources for help were:

Help from Women

2015/15

Men 2015/15

Women 2019-20

Men 2019-20

Neighbours 60% 44% 40% 32%

Own family 27% 28% 33% 24%

Friend 5% 18% 7% 15%

Husband/wife/partners family

16% 2% 18% 7%

Local authorities - - 18% 17%

Police 10% 12% 11% 17%

8.1.9 In a meeting with the HO on 22 March 2022, a representative of NCHR explained: ‘There is a tradition of a weekly meeting about gender at village level, we call it “parents evening” to share and address issues. We have a traditional court (Abunzi mediators) at local village level, for example, if there is a quarrel between husband and wife, their mandate is to address the issues to see if they can mediate before going to Court. If they fail then it can be escalated [to court].’¹⁸⁵

8.1.10 In a meeting with the HO on 22 March 2022, a representative of NCHR commented that they were: ‘Currently seeing situation of teenage pregnancies due to GBV – men with money can incite girls from poor families, buy things for her (watch, mobile phone), girl can be violated.

Institutions are in place if those situations arise to punish people responsible.

Age of consent is 18.’¹⁸⁶

183 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2019/2020’ (page 296), September 2021

184 NISR, ‘Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 2014/2015’ (page 270), March 2016

185 Annex A9, Meeting between HO and NCHR, 22 March 2022

186 Annex A9, Meeting between HO and NCHR, 22 March 2022

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