Rwanda signs AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

• Rwanda has signed the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, becoming the ninth member state to join the landmark treaty.
• The convention sets common standards for member states to strengthen prevention, protect survivors, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
• Rwanda is required to adopt or strengthen laws criminalizing all forms of violence against women and girls, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence.
• The convention emphasizes the importance of improving access to justice and survivor support services for victims of violence.

By signing this convention, Rwanda has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in the country.

In a significant move towards eradicating violence against women and girls, Rwanda has signed the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This landmark treaty is the first legally binding agreement of its kind in Africa, aiming to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls. The convention sets common standards for member states to strengthen prevention, protect survivors, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. By signing this convention, Rwanda has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in the country.

The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls provides a comprehensive continental legal framework that member states must adopt or strengthen laws criminalizing all forms of violence against women and girls. This includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence, whether committed in public or private spaces. The convention also emphasizes the importance of improving access to justice and survivor support services, such as healthcare, psychosocial care, legal assistance, and safe shelters. Furthermore, member states are required to collect and use data to inform policies, promote public awareness and education, address harmful social and cultural practices that fuel violence, and allocate adequate resources to programs aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.

The signing of the convention by Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, reflects the country's vision for a society free from violence against women and girls. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has stated that the convention aligns with Rwanda's national gender policy, which aims to promote equality and justice for all citizens. By ratifying this convention, Rwanda will be required to undergo national legal procedures, ensuring that its laws are in line with the treaty's provisions.

Lawyers should note that Rwanda's ratification of this convention requires the country to adopt or strengthen laws criminalizing all forms of violence against women and girls, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence.

Source: Original reporting via New Times