Haguruka

Haguruka is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) registered under Rwandan law whose main objective is to empower women and children by improving their access to quality justice throughout the country. Its name means 'stand up' in Kinyarwanda, reflecting the organisation's founding purpose of standing up for women and children facing social injustice. Since its establishment in 1991, Haguruka has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of women and children in Rwanda. The organisation is headquartered in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and operates regional offices in the four provinces – Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western. From these offices it coordinates a network of over 416 paralegals at the sector level who provide legal assistance to vulnerable people. Haguruka implements programmes that address the immediate human rights needs of vulnerable women and children while working to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality, using a rights-based approach that considers the holistic needs of victims. Haguruka's services include legal representation before courts of law for vulnerable women and children with limited financial means, mediation services, DNA testing support in paternity and child-related matters, legal advice and referral, safe shelters for women and children fleeing violence, and legal education through community dialogues and couples' dialogue programmes. It also runs Multifamily Healing Spaces where families who have experienced trauma come together to heal collectively. Its strategic areas of intervention are organisation capacity development, access to justice and psychosocial support, and research and advocacy. Over the past 30 years, Haguruka reports having served more than 300,000 right holders across 25+ districts through 60+ projects with 20+ partners. To achieve its mission, Haguruka collaborates with the Government at both central and local levels and partners with national and international non-governmental organisations. Haguruka's mission is to promote and defend the rights of women and children, with a vision of a society where the rights of women and children are respected. Its core values are accountability, empowerment, respect, confidentiality, and equality.

Haguruka was founded in 1991, a period when ethnic tensions were escalating in Rwanda and fuelling sociopolitical upheaval across the country. The multiparty political system had just been introduced, increasing the existing political chaos. The RPA launched its liberation struggle, offering a glimmer of hope, but the broader social, ethnic, economic, and political dysfunctions had already negatively affected the family unit, impacting women and children most acutely. It was in this context that Haguruka was founded. At a time when women and children were facing social injustices throughout the country, there was a need to 'stand up' – the meaning of Haguruka in Kinyarwanda. During the 1991–1994 creation phase, there were widespread social injustices against women, with acute gender inequality prevalent in the country. Many women were disempowered and unable to participate in income-generating activities or secure regular employment to support themselves. Furthermore, they had no control over the money they earned. The situation was especially dire for women in informal marriages, as they lacked any rights or influence over family property. Women's inclusion in state laws and other legal instruments remained significantly inadequate. In such challenging circumstances, women needed someone to stand up for them, advocate on their behalf, and provide protection. This was precisely the role that Haguruka fulfilled, combating social injustices and patriarchal systems. The 1995–2001 period is described by the organisation as a rebuilding phase. Over the following decades, Haguruka expanded its operations across Rwanda. It established its head office in Kigali and regional offices in the four provinces – Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western – from which it coordinates a network of over 416 paralegals at the sector level who provide legal assistance to vulnerable people. It also operates and partners with safe shelters in Kayonza (Eastern Province), Nyanza (Southern Province), Musanze (Northern Province), and Nyamasheke (Western Province). For the past 30 years, Haguruka has worked to address several challenges that women and children face in claiming their rights. This has been done through offering free legal aid, raising community awareness on GBV, capacitating stakeholders to give better service delivery, and contributing to national law reforms, among others. The organisation reports having served more than 300,000 right holders across 25+ districts through 60+ projects with 20+ partners. Haguruka implements programmes that address the immediate human rights needs of vulnerable women and children while working to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality. It uses a rights-based approach that considers the holistic needs of victims. To achieve its mission, Haguruka collaborates with the Government at both central and local levels and partners with national and international non-governmental organisations.

• 2001

  End of the rebuilding phase; Haguruka continues expanding its legal aid and advocacy work.

• 1995

  Start of the 1995–2001 rebuilding phase.

• 1994

  End of the 1991–1994 creation phase, during which Haguruka combated social injustices and patriarchal systems affecting women.

• 1991

  Haguruka is founded amid escalating ethnic tensions and sociopolitical upheaval in Rwanda.

A rights-based Rwandan NGO providing free legal aid, psychosocial support, and advocacy for vulnerable women and children.

• Legal Representation

  Haguruka represents vulnerable women and children with limited financial means to access justice by providing legal representation before courts of law.

• Mediation Services

  Mediation helps parties achieve mutually acceptable resolutions without resorting to formal court proceedings, though it must never replace accountability where violence is involved.

• DNA Testing Support

  DNA testing strengthens evidence in paternity and child-related matters, serving as a justice-enabling intervention that protects children's rights.

• Legal Advice & Referral

  In-depth legal consultation, case analysis, and strategic referrals to appropriate services.

• Safe Shelters

  Haguruka operates and partners with safe shelters in Kayonza, Nyanza, Musanze, and Nyamasheke, providing temporary refuge linked to legal aid and psychosocial support.

• Legal Education Services

  Community dialogues, couples' dialogue, and other legal education activities.

• Multifamily Healing Spaces

  Families who have experienced trauma come together to heal collectively through guided dialogue and emotional skill-building.

• Couples' Dialogue

  Helps partners rebuild trust, improve communication, and share responsibility in the household.

1. 1Haguruka – Defending the rights of women and childrenhaguruka.org.rw
2. 2About us – Hagurukahaguruka.org.rw
3. 3Our Story – Hagurukahaguruka.org.rw
4. 4Our Services – Hagurukahaguruka.org.rw
5. 5Haguruka – Wikidatawikidata.org