Ending Violence Against Deaf Women and Girls (GBV prevention, SGBV)

Rwanda ratified the UNCRPD along with its Optional Protocol on 15 December 2008.It is also signatory to the African protocol and has also ratified almost all core international human rights treaties. This includes the UDHR, CEDAW and Beijing Platform for Action are the key agreements which promote rights of all including women who are deaf or hard of hearing. The country is also home to Africa’s centre of the UN SDG set for 2030. The underlying theme of the SDGs is “leave no one behind”. Of particular relevance, the SDG goal # 10 is to reduce inequalities while number 16 promotes peace, justice and strong institutions. At the national level, Rwanda has various legal instruments which provide protection and promotion of the rights of PWDs including deaf girls and women. The government of Rwanda has accordingly taken significant steps to reduce inequalities in society. The adjustments in the social protection programme “Vision2020Umurenge” is particularly commendable.

Despite these mechanisms in place, violations of deaf girls and women continues in several parts of the country.

Deaf women and girls are at least twice as likely to be victims of abuse including violence than their hearing peers.  Deaf women and girls who endure GBV are doubly affected, through direct violence but also due to barriers they experience in everyday life. For example, issues relating to communication, isolation, difficulty accessing information, difficulty of reporting/accessing post disclosure support, and difficulty accessing the wide range of justice services. (Sullivan, Vernon, & Scanlan, 1987) , RNADW is working with local leaders , law enforcement institutions , parents of the Deaf , Health centers to educate , prevent gender based violence (GBV),sexual gender violence (SGV) or violence against women (VAW) and girls (G ) among Deaf and hard of hearing in the country and support the survivors to get justice and services.

 Violations perpetuate a cycle of inequalities between men and women, and between persons with disabilities and those without. Gender inequality results in rigid and differently valued role allocations among men and women, limited access and control over resources and benefits, lack of access to basic services such as education, health and information, low representation in formal decision-making positions and limited participation in the decision-making process at community and family level and inadequate participation in highly paid economic activities. Women with disabilities are at double disadvantage and women who are deaf in particular at high risk of abuse.

In our field activities to mobilize, educate and support women who are deaf, cases of denial, neglect and abuse are common.

To prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) incidents, RNADW implements a project to intensify mobilization, and carry out public education, advocacy and vigilance through strengthened community structures and effective management of cases of violations. GBV case workers in close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, the government watchdog Rwanda investigation bureau (RIB) , National Council for persons with Disability (NCPD), as well as the umbrella bodies like NUDOR and UPHLS.

This is ongoing community outreach through home visits, community meetings and awareness sessions in schools. The team will build on gains in previous GBV interventions where we worked with other actors to collectively identify and support GBV cases. Public messages on prevention were developed, printed and distributed in various locations. Several activities were organized and conducted over the 16-day activism period held annually between November and December in five districts. It involved holding a coordination meeting for the stakeholders and GBV community awareness outreaches in different locations. Two semi-annual coordination meetings were conducted for 48 people. Other milestones reached was the successful delivery of a two-day refresher training workshop for 20 GBV case workers to improve their capacity to offer better services.

RNADW plans to devise and implement other innovative projects which will enhance the prevention of GBV by strengthening the existing community structures and community members. We plan to train health staff, police, local leaders, NGOs and paralegals and probation officers of government.  This will enable these structures in the 4 Districts to take a leading role in accelerating social changes and employing various community mobilization and sensitization means. It will also address the gaps observed in the response mechanisms through capacitating the major service providers, law enforcement bodies, health and psycho-social institutions and services providers. This will be realized by supporting the primary duty bearers to share experiences on innovative service delivery mechanisms.

RNADW will enhance its strategy to reduce GBV cases in target locations through community empowerment initiatives. The targeted stakeholders include: community leaders, women, youth, health workers and law enforcement institutions in close collaboration with the Ministry and other GBV stakeholders to improve the coordination of services for survivors. 

Communication is also a significant barrier for Deaf women and girls, permeating all aspects of their lives. For Deaf people who perhaps have little or no understandable speech, and struggle to lip-read, the use of sign language can be a huge help if those around them can also use sign language, or interpreters are accessible. However, without the use of interpreters, many Deaf people struggle to access services (whether those services relate to health, social care, criminal justice, education, social interaction, or any other services) or even to access their own family, many of whom never learn to communicate with their Deaf child.

If GBV is reduced, the SDG goal # 10 aimed at reducing inequalities and # 16 which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions will be achieved. Given Rwanda is where the SDG African centre sits, it is only befitting that efforts to attain the SDG targets are accelerated on home ground.