Sarah and Maria (names changed for privacy) are sisters. Sarah was married for many years but was unable to have children. In desperation for an answer, she consulted a witch doctor who told her that she would get pregnant only if her husband raped her sister Maria who was a virgin. Sarah believed what the witch told her and later convinced her husband to buy into the idea.
Nsegiyumva Innocent and Manirakiza Agnes lived together for twelve years and had three children. Though they were not legally married, they co-owned land. Nsegiyumva however, deprived his partner the right to share control over the harvest This caused grave conflicts in their relationship. Nsengiyumva began to physically abuse Manirakiza whenever she would
Legal aid and representation are still very difficult to access for many people in Rwanda. Zilipa walked for four hours from her house to one of Haguruka’s advocacy centres in Musanze, in the Northern Province of Rwanda. She was determined to find legal help by all means. Her husband and father of her children, had gotten a mistress whom he wanted to marry