KIREHE, Rwanda — The Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) has joined a district-level consultation bringing together women-led organizations, women’s rights organizations and development partners to strengthen collaboration on priorities affecting women and girls in Kirehe District.
RUB was represented by Muhigirwa Uwase Mireille, Project Coordinator, at the Kirehe District Partners’ Consultation Meeting held under the Powered by Women project. The meeting was convened by Kirehe District in collaboration with Profemmes Twese Hamwe.
The consultation brought together members of the Women-Led Organization (LO) and Women’s Rights Organization (WRO) coalition alongside key stakeholders to review jointly identified priorities, explore opportunities for collaboration and agree on practical contributions toward their implementation.
Participants also reviewed progress in the district’s planning processes and discussed areas for joint advocacy, with particular attention to women’s economic justice, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as well as the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV).
For RUB, the discussions provided an opportunity to emphasize the importance of ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind in district-level development and advocacy initiatives.
As a coalition member, RUB reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments, in efforts addressing gender equality, economic empowerment and protection from violence.
The organization also committed to contributing to joint monitoring, advocacy and information-sharing as partners move forward with implementation of the identified priorities.
RUB’s participation alongside organizations including CARE, the National Women’s Council, RWAMREC, FXB and Save the Children, among other members of the district coalition, highlights the importance of coordinated action in addressing the diverse needs of women and girls.
The consultation is expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and support more inclusive approaches to planning and advocacy at the district level, ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are considered in policies and initiatives designed to advance gender equality and women’s rights.
