On February 18-19, the Rwanda Medical Association hosted a workshop on the health sector’s response to gender-based violence.

The Capacity Project presented results from its 2007 study, which examined the nature, prevalence, causes and consequences of workplace violence in Rwanda’s health workforce. The study was designed to assist government ministries and other institutions to develop policy and programmatic responses. Workshop attendees included health workers, the police, institutions working on gender-based violence, partner and civil society organizations, public institutions such as the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and the Ministry of Justice as well as the Rwanda Nursing and Midwife Association.

The audience appreciated that the study analyzed different types of violence and that stakeholders had been involved throughout the process. The group concluded that a health sector policy for the prevention and management of violence is necessary, and recommended more in-depth work on different forms of violence.

March 2009