In 1991, ethnic tensions were flaring in Rwanda and this fuelled sociopolitical upheavals across the country. The multiparty political system had just been given authority that increased the existing political chaos. The RPA launched its liberation struggle, which gave a glimmer of hope, but the larger social, ethnic, economic and political dysfunctions had already negatively affected the family unit and were hardly felt by women and children. This is when Haguruka was born. At a time when women and children were facing social injustices all over the country there was a need to ‘stand up’, which is the meaning of Haguruka in Kinyarwanda.
For the past 30 years, Haguruka has worked tirelessly to address several challenges that women and children face in claiming their rights. This has been done through offering free legal aid, raining community awareness on GBV, capacitating stakeholders to give better service delivery and contributing to national law reforms, among others.
My name is Mukarukwaya Christine, and I have been a paralegal for Haguruka since 2001. I started my journey in Gatsata after working as a social worker in the Muhima Sector and being a member of the CNF at that time.
In this special edition, we celebrate the women who work with Haguruka and explore our innovative approaches to empowering women and children in Rwanda. We'll highlight dedicated individuals like paralegal Mukarukwaya Christine, whose 23+ years of experience demonstrate the impact of passion and commitment in addressing legal challenges.
One day in 2021, while walking to the market, I was approached by a man who offered me a lift. Despite my initial hesitation, he persisted, and I eventually got into his car. Little did I know that this decision would put me in grave danger.
