Background

The Government of Rwanda has committed to build a society that gives and respects everyone’s rights. The country considers gender equality as a strategy for the respect of human rights, democracy and good governance for sustainable development.

To strategically position itself towards achieving these goals, the Government has put in place laws, policies, strategies and regulations in addition to domestication of different regional and international commitments as well as establishment of institutions mandated to promote gender equality between men and women, boys and girls.

To ensure compliance and effective implementation of the various national, regional and international commitments, the Government of Rwanda established the Gender Monitoring Office through the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda 2023, with a mandate to monitor the respect of Gender Equality principles, promote gender accountability at all levels and fight against Gender-Based Violence and related injustices.

Affiliated to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Gender Monitoring Office is established by the law No 51/2007 0f 20/09/2007 which determines its responsibilities, organization and functioning.

Mission 

To advance gender equality by monitoring gender mainstreaming efforts, addressing
gender-based violence and injustice through effective oversight, and promoting inclusive
policies through advocacy, research, and alignment with national and international
gender frameworks.

The Vision

To be a leading institution enforcing gender accountability and equality for inclusive,
sustainable development in Rwanda.

Key Responsibilities

The Gender Monitoring Office has the following key responsibilities: 

• Monitoring the respect and compliance of gender related commitments across public, private, non-governmental and religious institutions;
• Monitoring the respect of ratified regional and international gender related commitments;
• Monitoring the quality of services offered to Gender Based Violence victims and effectiveness of   Gender Based Violence prevention and response mechanisms;
• Carrying out research based on statistics on specific issues in the framework of mainstreaming and respecting gender principles;
• To be a point of reference for information and documentation on gender equality;
• Advocating for the respect of gender equality at all levels

Powers of Gender Monitoring Office

• Identifying all gender acts of all institutions relating to gender principles and seeking explanations for any contraventions
• Identifying and providing opinion on draft laws in order to ensure their compliance to the gender principles.
• Identifying laws or provisions of laws requiring amendment in the context of respecting the principles of gender
• Submitting to the Cabinet or Chamber of Deputies opinion which may be included in draft laws
• Receiving complaints of Gender Based Violence and other gender related injustices and submitting them to the relevant bodies for action and follow up
• Receiving any person with information of gender inequality and report it to the relevant body after analysis
• Contributing to the preparation of the State Budget Draft Law in order to ensure gender sensitive budget
• Requesting for documents, consult them at source or requesting for their copies as well as any other document which may help the Office in examining and collecting evidences on the violation of the gender principles.
• Seeking technical assistance from experts in order to fulfill its duties
• Contracting with a person, an organization or any other body in order to achieve the shared goal in regard to promoting Gender Equality and fighting Gender Based Violence

Organs of the Gender Monitoring Office

The High Monitoring Council: Is the supreme organ of the Office charged with the overall management and strategic decision-making for the fulfillment of its responsibilities. The High Monitoring Council is composed of the Chief Gender Monitor, the Deputy Chief Gender Monitor in charge of Monitoring Gender Mainstreaming, and the Deputy Chief Gender Monitor in charge of fighting against injustice and Gender Based Violence.

Executive Secretariat: Headed by the Executive Secretary who ensures the day-to-day management of activities of the Office.

Consultative Committee: Assists and provides advice and suggestions to the High Monitoring Council to fulfill its responsibilities. It also provides suggestions on the planning and reporting of the activities of the Office. The Consultative Committee is constituted by persons from different institutions in different sectors including public and private institutions.