The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Rwanda
Why we work in Rwanda
In 1994, a genocide against Tutsis took place in Rwanda. In just three months, more than a million people were murdered. An estimated three million fled their homes. Women suffered heavily: many were raped and infected with HIV, and others lost their partners and were left widowed.
After the genocide, the government made a concerted effort to rebuild society. Rwandan women played a key role in this process. One of the victories they achieved was co-creating a progressive new constitution, guaranteeing women at least 30% of positions in all decision-making bodies in the country.
This has made Rwanda the world’s leader in number of women in parliament: 61% of the seats are held by women. Since the genocide, many laws have also been passed to strengthen women’s rights. Today, for example, women have the same right as men to inherit land.
However, strong norms and traditions still exist in Rwanda, preventing women from enjoying their rights. Gender-based violence remains a problem. The National Institute of Statistics estimates that 36.1% of women have experienced physical violence.
That is why Kvinna till Kvinna works in Rwanda: to ensure the country’s positive development continues. We strive for genuine equality, so that all women may participate fully in society.