You Cannot Dance If You Cannot Stand
A Review of the Rwanda Women’s Initiative and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Commitment to Gender Equality in Post-conflict Societies
Categories: Statebuilding
Sub-Categories: Democratization and Political Participation, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Transitional Justice
Country: Rwanda
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Year: 2001
Citation: You Cannot Dance If You Cannot Stand: A Review of the Rwanda Women’s Initiative and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Commitment to Gender Equality in Post-conflict Societies. New York: Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 2001.
Sub-Categories: Democratization and Political Participation, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Transitional Justice
Country: Rwanda
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Year: 2001
Citation: You Cannot Dance If You Cannot Stand: A Review of the Rwanda Women’s Initiative and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Commitment to Gender Equality in Post-conflict Societies. New York: Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 2001.
Abstract
The remarkable courage of Rwandan women and girls gives reason for hope again after the tragic events in Rwanda. Rwandan women and girls have formed thousands of grassroots associations connected by networks throughout the country. Through this social organization, they have begun to rebuild their lives: reconstructing their homes, building centers for survivors of genocide and rape, learning to read and write, returning to school, acquiring new skills, participating in political life and forming local businesses. The international community played a key role in supporting women and their organizations in Rwanda through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Rwanda Women’s Initiative (RWI). This report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of RWI, providing lessons learned for future women’s initiatives and specific recommendations for the future of RWI.