Protection

The rights of children, women, and disadvantaged persons are known and upheld

Every child has the right to grow up free from abuse, violence, and neglect. As a child-focused organization, this is our highest priority. Children need to grow up in families and communities that are free from abuse and violence, especially gender-based violence.

AEE Rwanda works to prevent violence through training and awareness campaigns that change family and community mindsets regarding children, women, and conflict resolution.

We create safe spaces and “speak-out” groups where children learn about their rights and can share their experiences in a safe environment. When abuse and violence occur, AEE Rwanda collaborates with local authorities and police to establish safe and effective reporting processes and long-term interventions.

Through our ongoing interventions, AEE Rwanda aims to establish family and community norms that reject abuse and violence, particularly towards children, women, and vulnerable persons.

Child Rights

For children rights to be met, children, parents, and communities must understand the rights children hold and the responsibilities parents and communities must uphold those rights.

AEE works with children and adolescents through clubs and groups led by trained caregivers or mentors. These groups educate children on their rights, how to claim them, and provide a safe space for them to share their experiences.

AEE also collaborates with parents, local government authorities, and other organizations to ensure that children’s rights are clearly understood and upheld. When a child’s rights are not being met or if a child is experiencing abuse, AEE community workers either work to resolve the issue directly or refer it to local authorities.

Safeguarding

Children participating in AEE projects are often vulnerable. AEE's employs safeguarding strategies to ensure that these children are not harmed by those working with them. The strategies include training workers and volunteers from AEE and partner organisations in rights and responsibilities and putting in place safe channels to report abuse.

Gender Equity and Social Inclusion

AEE works to eliminate discrimination on gender or other social category.

Discrimination can take the form of unfair access to education or other social and emotional goods, to gender-based violence (GBV).

AEE conducts community-based campaigns against GBV. These include education on rights and responsibilities, including sexual and reproductive health decision, and also grassroots initiates such as commissioning local groups to write and perform short plays or dances, performed at a significant local events, that illustrate the problems of and solutions to GBV.