When gender-based violence is compounded by HIV/AIDS and poverty, the impact on the lives of women, their families, communities and on the nation at large, is devastating. In this report, African Rights looks at the inter-connections between women’s human rights, violence against women and women’s health in the context of Rwanda. The findings highlight the extent to which food security is an essential weapon in fighting this assault upon the health and human rights of women. It makes a strong argument for greater attention to nutrition and food security as the most basic tools in helping those HIV positive women, who have endured violence, in regaining their health, dignity and autonomy. This research paper was supported by UNIFEM as an integral part of its 2005 campaign to End Violence Against Women. The 2005 theme, “For the Health of Women, for the Health of the World” is a timely reminder of the grievous toll that violence against women inflicts on society as a whole. The findings were discussed at a meeting in Kigali on 2 March organized jointly by UNIFEM and the Ministry of Health. It was attended by government officials working in the health sector, international agencies and NGOs and women’s organizations. The recommendations which emerged from the meeting have been incorporated in the paper.
