This Assessment on the Barriers to Effective Access to Justice for Girls and Women with Disabilities in Rwanda was conducted by the Legal Aid Forum (LAF), in partnership with the Rwandan Organisation of Women with Disabilities (UNABU), and with financial support from the Disability Rights Fund. Its aims are three-fold: examining the existing level of access to justice for girls and women with disabilities, identifying barriers and gaps in law and policy, and scrutinizing the role of different organizations and institutions in access to justice by women and girls with disabilities. This assessment is based on (1) information gathered through a desk review of laws, policies, conventions and existing publications such as research reports, and (2) qualitative research in the form of interviews with key stakeholders and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women and girls with disabilities.

Findings demonstrate the Government of Rwanda’s significant progress in developing a legal, policy and institutional framework that streamlines legal aid in order to ensure universal and affordable quality justice. The assessment nevertheless found that there are still significant gaps and barriers,.......