The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) has announced plans to revise the way gender equality is taught in Rwanda after acknowledging that the concept has been misunderstood in some communities, leading to marital conflicts.
The announcement was made by Gender Minister Consolée Uwimana on December 30, 2025, during a dialogue on family stability organized by the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP). She noted that while gender equality education began in 2017, its implementation was sometimes rushed without sufficient analysis, resulting in unintended consequences within families.
Uwimana explained that the revised approach focuses on engaging men more actively to help them better understand and support gender equality.
The program uses interactive methods, including games, to help couples recognize behaviors that negatively affect their relationships.
So far, 448 people have been trained, including representatives from all districts and 15 higher learning institutions, who will help roll out the program nationwide down to the village level.
Tito Rutaremara, Chairperson of the Rwanda Council of Elders, said gender equality itself is not the cause of family conflicts but rather one-sided interpretations of it.
He emphasized that women’s economic participation can strengthen families when properly understood.
According to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) data from September 2025, at least 395 couples have killed each other over the past six years due to domestic conflicts, highlighting the urgency of strengthening family education and conflict prevention.
