Haguruka celebrating 32 years of empowering women and children, actions speak

Kigali, Rwanda – Yesterday, Haguruka, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting women and children’s rights, celebrated its 32nd   anniversary with a gathering of stakeholders, guests, and representatives from diverse NGOs. The event showcased Haguruka’s achievements over the past five years and highlighted its approach to gender-based violence (GBV).

Haguruka’s Executive Secretary, Ninette Umurerwa, who spoke about the organization’s accomplishments over the past five years, emphasized its commitment to providing legal aid, capacity building, and conducting researches and advocacy.

According to ES Ninette Umurerwa, over the past five years, Haguruka has contributed to over 10,200 legal cases, of which 71.67% were women and 28.33% were men. The organization’s legal aid services include representation in court, drafting legal documents and providing legal advice.

 “In terms of capacity building, Haguruka has trained over 3,100 people on various topics including laws such as the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Law, Land Law, Protection Law of the child, and the law governing matrimonial regimes. The organization also conducts community dialogues, couples dialogues, safe spaces for women, radio/television talk shows, social media campaigns and other capacity building activities”, Said ES Umurerwa.

“Additionally, Haguruka has invested in technology initiatives to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The organization adopted modern accounting software, implemented an electronic financial system and used research to inform its programming and interventions,” she added.

She said that Haguruka has also carried out research and advocacy focused on issues such as the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions at the local level, the high rate of teenage pregnancies and the need for effective prevention mechanisms and response to GBV.

The Executive Secretary of Haguruka said their NGO offers a variety of ways for people to access its services, including walk-ins at its offices, toll-free lines, mobile legal aid clinics, shelters and research-based interventions tailored to individual needs.

Haguruka’s 32-year journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to empowering women and children. The organization’s achievements over the past five years demonstrate its impact on promoting gender equality and addressing GBV.

“As we move forward, we remain dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of Rwandan women and children”, assured Ninette Umurerwa, the organization’s ES.

 Reporter: Ingabire Divine