What we Do
RESEARCH
Over the years AHR has conducted filed surveys and assessment in form of formative research on various issues geared to address norms and beliefs that influence aspects social protection, stigma and discrimination, more still, in addition, this strategic plan will entail more surveys on teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and violence against children and women, human rights violations against LGBTI among others. In turn, these researches are used to raise awareness and inform programs and policies to change the harmful norms that perpetuate these practices in Rwanda.
LEGAL AID
AHR advocates for LGBTI persons access to justice through linking them to legal aid organizations in Rwanda, documenting cases of abuse, stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons, women and children. AHR also closely works with local authorities in regard to reporting cases of S/GBV to entities such as Isange One-Stop Centre (A referral center which covers the entire territory of Rwanda to support victims of GBV & child abuse to access services one place which also helps reduce distance, avoid risk of tainted evidence, ensure safety and security of victims, enhance coordination etc.). AHR offers legal advice to victims of abuse, stigma and discrimination as well as SGBV on where to go and seek pro-Bono services.
ADVOCACY
AHR considers advocacy as aimed at changing the status of policies, strategies or programmes that have always left vulnerable and key populations behind. In our advocacy efforts, AHR will undertake research to clarify issues on LGBTI and women rights to access to justice, healthcare, employment, social protection programmes, socio-economic empowerment, Education, SRHR and GBV, providing evidence based information and education to all concerned parties for achievement of equality. AHR will aim to promote access for all to health services, justice, building partnerships, alliances, networks and coalitions on the issues being advocated for so as to build a collective voice; dialoguing and negotiating with individuals and organizations with contrary views and positions. AHR will focus attention on the power relationships between people, groups, communities, households and local authority structures where it will hold duty bearers accountable to their obligations by holding regular platform meetings with; local administrators at grassroots, sector, district and national levels i.e. Relevant government ministries and institutions, civil society organizations, etc. on issues of health service delivery, access to justice, access to employment opportunities, human rights GBV prevention, prevention of stigma and discrimination.
CAPACITY
Women’s, LGBTI and Youth Based Training is a unique aspect that AHR uses to improve skills and capacity for women and youth who miss out on education or general knowledge of issues that affect them such as GBV, SRHR, Human Rights, Child Rights and Child Protection, access to justice, stigma and discrimination, gender and sexual identity among others; all of which they are not able to access formal and institutionalized vocational training programs. It is an alternative livelihood approach that seeks to empower individuals and groups of people especially the LGBTI persons, women and youth by providing them with skills they need to effect change in their own community. The capacity building in form of community dialogues, training is provided in the community based on needs identified through the needs assessment conducted to inform the training modules.