Determinants of Gender Based Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Rwanda. A Case of Gakenke District

Women and girls with disabilities are doubly discriminated by gender inequality and by their impairments. They are challenged by sexual abuse and violence perpetrated by intimate partners and/or non- partners. As none should be left behind, this present research analyzed the determinants of gender based violence against women with disabilities in Rwanda using a case of Gakenke District in order to provide recommendations tackling GBV against women with disability. The null hypothesis of the research was H0: Ignorance and social stigma are not the main drivers of gender based violence against women with disability in Gakenke district. The research was qualitative and the data was collected through a questionnaire and focus group discussions and computed using Microsoft Excel. A sample of 94 respondents was selected from a population of 1484 women and girls with disabilities. Other persons involved in the research are 64 local administrative leaders and staffs. The results of the study revealed that for rights awareness, the results indicate that 51.1% of women with disability are not aware of their rights/freedoms; and the society does not recognize women and girls with disability as having all those rights/ freedoms as affirmed by respondents at 98.8%. On social integration, the research found that the level of participation is too low. It ranges from 18% for public meeting to 3% in saving associations. On economic integration, the results indicate that 93.9% of women with disability do not run any economic activity; and have zero income per month. For the sexuality perception by the community, 96.3% of women with disability indicate that a marriage between a man without disability and a woman with disabilities is seen as an abnormal situation. Concerning the ability to self-defense, 87.8% prefer to remain at home and never travel for avoiding GBV. For duty bearers’ awareness, the results indicate that 46.3% of women with disability ignore them totally while 32.9% have a confused idea calling all of them leaders without clear categorizations. Based on these results, the null hypothesis was rejected; and the study accepted the alternative hypothesis. The research recommended synergy of all institutions such public, private and civil society as the foundation of GBV prevention and response among women with disability.