Résultats de recherche

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO INTEGRATE BANDEBEREHO DATA INTO THE EXISTING MONITORING, REPORTING SYSTEM, E-LEARNING AND DIGITALIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEM OF RBC

The Paternity Leave Dialogue Report by RWAMREC, in collaboration with the Rwanda Civil Society Platform and the World Policy Analysis Center, explores and advocates for issues surrounding paternity leave in Rwanda. 24 July 2023

Coming from a GBV-response background in Sweden, I have listened to countless testimonies from women who have had their rights and integrity brutally and cold-heartedly taken away. Horrendous accountsinvolving the darkest actions of humankind, presented on a platter of broken hearts and desperate minds. The common denominator? These acts of utter violence were all perpetrated by men. Men who in one way or another refused responsibility and punished help-seeking behaviors. As months turned to years, my inner frustration slowly but steadily spilled over the entire male population like a bucket of ice cold contempt. It was as if I went through my days hearing the familiar voice from an Attenborough documentary exclaiming“Ah, the infamous male Homo Sapiens! It grows up to two meters tall. Carnivorous. Easily identifiable by its fragile ego. Wondrous at sight, but beware! It can lash out and kill at the smallest inconvenience.”And I couldn’t possibly wrapmy head around why non-violent men were not climbing the barricades of their friend circles, families, and communities roaring for change. My didactic observations concluded; men suck. Arriving at RWAMREC, a proud member of RWAMNET and the MenEngage Alliance was, in theleast, an apocalypse. It was as if I had entered through a Narnia-like portal to a dimension in which men and thunder hollered for justice and humbled themselves under the rain of women’s eternal plights. As my world-view turned like a Swedish meatball in a frying pan, the questions I silently carried on my lips for the first weeks were; does it really work? Can men change? As trivial as that, but tragically honest from a young woman’s perspective. My inner journey required three monthsof internship, a pinch of casual car-talks and cross-checks with ED and the Program Manager, a trip to Musanze-Eden of East Africa and crafted beer, and frightening amounts of ginger infused African tea. Then one day, as the bright Rwandan sun dawned in competition with my inner self, I could finally see it. I saw men fallen prey on their own selves, tripping over history of failed masculinities, and men refusing to accept the status-quo. Men who selflessly, genuinely, and for solid reasons spent overtime at the office and in the field. Personally convicted gender inclusive individuals who intelligently shared a feminist vision of social justice. It was virtually spiritual. Today, I identify as a reformed feminist, convicted and baptized into the MenEngageapproach. Not merely because I can back up my stances with miles of research material in my support, but also because I have courageously taken a step of faith to envision a future in which men and women can work together for change. When my former colleague back in Sweden called me for some regular updates the other week (new clients at the shelter, yes rape and beatings during pregnancy, yes revengeful former husband) she paused, inhaled for a second, and distrustfully asked the questions that apparentlylinger on many female minds. So, does it really work? Can men change? By now you know my answer. Written by: Anna Wiren Kigali, Rwanda

by Maria Francisca Gonçalves If gender is socially constructed through actions and norms based on cultural, biological and psychological interpretations, one could argue that discrimination as an act is one of its manifestations. And on the basis of gender, access to resources, power and control is determined as a result of roles, power relations, responsibilities, and expectations defined by gender norms. Since gender stereotypes are learned concepts, this means that they can also be unlearned or learned differently. Consequently, men’s ideas of what it means to be a man can change. However, for this change to occur, we need to engage men in addressing stereotypical ideas about what it means to be a man or a woman. The inclusion of young boys is also crucial, as gendered behaviours are shaped in childhood. Why does feminism need men? And why do men need feminism? First, because feminism isn’t a label, but an action, a movement to eliminate gendered oppression and promote gender equality. Feminism allows men and women to freely express their own individuality. Masculine perceptions are harmful both to men and women, such as: men are though, men need more sex, men are the breadwinners, men are head of the families, men are dominant, etc. One of the biggest challenges is that men are the main perpetrators of violent acts. So, accountability mechanisms should be strengthened and made available for women to report GBV. Yet men are too rarely seen as potential victims, allies, or participants in the effort to end violence. Therefore, it is important for RWAMREC to promote research and projects aimed at understanding how constructions of masculinities can contribute to cycles of violence, as perceptions of masculinity are also key barriers to women’s empowerment. Furthermore, understanding violence against women is incomplete if it does not include gendered practices that harm men and does not acknowledge that gender is also an issue for men. This recognition is key to creating long-term, sustainable gender transformation projects/programs, and this is where the MenEngage Approach and Alliance enters. It is important to clarify that the MenEngage exists in the form of a network of NGOs from the Global South and North that advocates men and boys for women’s rights, gender justice, LGBTQI rights, and social justice for all by promoting positive forms of masculinity. Alternatives to hegemonic masculinity that promote more inclusive, sympathetic, compassionate and egalitarian forms are referred to as positive masculinity. RWAMREC is an organization that works to promote these at country and regional level. RWAMREC has developed several theoretical models for behavioral change, primarily based on its main approach “the MenEngage”. One of the main strategies RWAMREC uses in its activities is the Journey of transformation model (JOT). This model engages couples in promoting gender equality, ending sexual and GBV in households, communities and workplace, while supporting women's economic empowerment. An excellent example of another gender-responsive intervention is curriculum-based interventions such as RWAMREC’s Bandebereho programme. The question that arises is: does this approach actually work? RWAMREC has conducted a study on the impact of the Bandebereho gender transformative couples’ intervention and has concluded that our findings, together with previous studies, suggest that culturally appropriate gender-transformative interventions with men and couples can be effective in changing deep-rooted gender inequalities and a range of health-related behavioral outcomes. RWAMREC research is thus already generating opportunities for future change by feeding research findings back to the communities and government partners and fostering entry points for new conversations about e.g. gender identity, roles and responsibilities and links to violence. In conclusion, feminism needs men, and men need feminism. Men from all social backgrounds should be intensively involved in programmes and campaigns to promote positive masculinity in the home and in everyday life. If men and boys are involved in changing attitudes towards women, then the prospect of building a more positive, responsible and safe environment is possible. This article is published in the following link: www.zeitschrift.frauensolidaritaet.org/ On the author: Maria Francisca Gonçalves is an intern at RWAMREC and is currently pursuing a masters in International Security at Sciences Po (Paris) with concentrations in Middle Eastern Studies and Diplomacy. She is also pursuing the Sciences Po's Gender Studies Programme, the Advanced Certification in Gender Studies. She enjoys all things MENA related and seeks to combine this with a passion for gender-transformative work.

a youth facilitator's guide

The launching ceremony of the Bandebereho scale-up project in Musanze, Burera, and Gakenke Districts was held on March 23rd, 2023, in Burera District. This 5 yearproject is a collaborative effort betweentheRwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) under the Maternal Child and Community Healthdivision(RBC/MCCH), the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), and the National Childhood Development Agency (NCDA). The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) provides financial support for this project. Bandebereho is RWAMREC flagship intervention, and an adaptation of Equimundo Program P for the Rwandan context.It is agender transformative intervention for couples that aims toengage men as partners and fathers in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH),violence prevention and caregiving for a healthier couple relationship. The project targets expectant couples and parents of children under 5 years of age. Community health workers at the village levelare the ones facilitating weekly small group education sessions for 12 couples,for17weeks.The project seeks to positively change the gender attitudes and behaviors of men and couples to promoteimproved maternal and child health, as well as gender outcomes. The positive long-termimpact of the program has been proven by rigorous evaluation carried out through a randomized controlled trial, conducted 6 years after the implementation of the pilot program. Results showed that couples attending Bandebereho sessions showed a statistically significant positive difference across all outcomes, versus the control group. The launching ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including the Mayor of Burera District, the Vice Mayor, Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) staff, the Director General of Butaro Hospital, the District Police Commander, and religious leaders, among others. Mr. Fidele Rutayisire, RWAMRECExecutive Director officiated the event. Participants pledged their support forthe Bandebereho scale-up project to achieve its expected outcomes. Currently the RWAMREC team is busy raising the matching funds to be able to cover the total budget requested by the scale up process.