Rwanda Research

Since the end of the civil war and 1994 genocide, Rwandan women have made remarkable contributions to rebuild their society. They also made unprecedented political gains, achieving near parity in the legislature's lower chamber. But what effect did their presence have on this society in transition? Inclusive Security's three-year Rwanda Project revealed that women leaders: drafted the only substantive bill to emerge from the legislative rather than the executive branch, a far-reaching law to combat gender-based violence; spearheaded efforts to eliminate discrimination and enhance human rights protections; and fostered cross-party and male-female collaboration through the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians and by involving men in efforts to craft legislation. The following papers and policy briefs elaborate on these extraordinary achievements.

Defending ChildrenDefending Children's Rights: The Legislative Priorities of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians
April 2008

Demonstrating Legislative LeadershipDemonstrating Legislative Leadership: The Introduction of Rwanda's Gender-Based Violence Bill
April 2008

Engendering RwandaEngendering Rwanda's Decentralization: Supporting Women Candidates for Local Office
April 2008


"'Gender is Society': Inclusive Lawmaking in Rwanda's Parliament"
By Elizabeth Powley and Elizabeth Pearson, Critical Half
Winter 2007


POLICY BRIEFS
This series of policy briefs is derived from Inclusive Security's Rwanda Project research. They aim to provide policymakers, donors, and program planners with strategies for the consolidation of democracy in post-conflict societies.

Read the policy briefs in English or in French.


Read more about the papers' release:
Looking to Rwanda for Lessons on Gender Equality
By Andrea Friedman, Huffington Post
December 3, 2008

"Policy Placement" and Iraq: Women in Combat
By Lorelei Kelly, Huffington Post
April 21, 2008

Case Studies: What Happens When Women Lead?
By Josh Weissburg, Global Interdependence Initiative's The Switchblog
April 11, 2008