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Wellesley College

Publication Date

Fall 2020

Program Name

Rwanda: Post-Genocide Restoration and Peacebuilding

Abstract

Haguruka is a Rwandan NGO founded in 1991 that works to ensure Rwandan women and youth’s access to their legal rights. In addition to providing free legal aid, Haguruka runs educational and capacity building programs across the country to combat gender-based violence (GBV).1 When the Rwandan government instituted lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in January of 2020, many of Haguruka’s programs were no longer feasible under the new guidelines. Additionally, emerging research has shown that incidents of GBV have increased globally due to policies to combat COVID-19.2 Rwanda is no exception. Through a desk review, interviews with Haguruka employees and beneficiaries, as well as personal observations over the course of my internship, this practicum analyzes how the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Haguruka’s ability to combat GBV in Rwanda. It assesses how Haguruka has adapted its programs in response to the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, and to what extent Haguruka has succeeded in adapting. Ultimately this report concludes that Haguruka has had much success in continuing to carry out its mission during the COVID-19 pandemic, but still faces significant barriers in ensuring its beneficiaries have access to its service provision.

Disciplines

African Languages and Societies | African Studies | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Epidemiology | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social Welfare | Women's Studies

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