PROJECT: “EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PROJECT: “EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO SERVICES IN THE RESPONSE TO ACCESS TO SERVICES IN THE RESPONSE TO

VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN AND GIRLS VIOLENCE TOWARDS WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES”, BurundiWITH DISABILITIES”, Burundi

Fulgence NDAGIJIMANAFulgence NDAGIJIMANAHIV, GBV and Disability Project Manager HIV, GBV and Disability Project Manager

Bujumbura, White Stone, 21-25 February Bujumbura, White Stone, 21-25 February 20112011

I. Project funding

- Co-financing by the European Commission Delegation to Burundi

- Total funding: € 98,900.10, comprised of:

• 80% by the European Commission Delegation to Burundi (€ 79,120.08)

• 20% by Handicap International (€ 19,780.02)

II. Implementation period and geographic location

- Project conducted in 10 municipalities Project conducted in 10 municipalities spread over 3 Provinces of Central and spread over 3 Provinces of Central and Western BurundiWestern Burundi• Bujumbura Mairie: Buyenzi, Bwiza, Kanyosha, Bujumbura Mairie: Buyenzi, Bwiza, Kanyosha,

Kamenge and ButerereKamenge and Buterere• Bujumbura: MutimbuziBujumbura: Mutimbuzi• Gitega: Gitega, Giheta, Mutaho and MakebukoGitega: Gitega, Giheta, Mutaho and Makebuko

- The project ran for a period of 18 months: - The project ran for a period of 18 months: from March 2009 to September 2010from March 2009 to September 2010

III. Why a GBV and disability project?

- The idea for the project was inspired by The idea for the project was inspired by testimonies gathered by HI during the testimonies gathered by HI during the implementation of its “HIV and Disability” projectimplementation of its “HIV and Disability” project

- The relationship between violence and HIV, The relationship between violence and HIV, particularly sexual violenceparticularly sexual violence

- Testimonies gathered during participatory work Testimonies gathered during participatory work with DPOswith DPOs

- The observation that violence towards persons The observation that violence towards persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a reality which is never with disabilities (PWDs) is a reality which is never

highlighted by actors working in this fieldhighlighted by actors working in this field

IV. Objectives of the project

1) General objectives:

- National stakeholders in the response to violence towards women possess the necessary tools and experience to include disability in their initiatives and policies

- Equal opportunities, social participation and the rights of women with disabilities are promoted and respected

2) Specific objective:

- Disability is incorporated into Gender-Based Violence (GBV) initiatives in pilot project areas and in national advocacy action

Expected outcomesOutcome 1:

Communities, persons with disabilities and key players in the 2 pilot areas are informed about violence towards women with disabilities.

Outcome 2: The capacity of centres and actors involved in the treatment, care and support of women subjected to violence is strengthened to better address disability issues in their services.

Outcome 3: The experience in pilot areas fuels national awareness-raising and advocacy action on the need to include disability issues in gender-based violence policies.

Outcome 4: A final project evaluation document exists. It details the project implementation and the extent to which the set objectives were attained.

V. Project beneficiaries

Category of beneficiaries

Expected beneficiaries

Actual beneficiaries

General population (awareness-raising)

400,000 340,993 (177,317 women and 163,676 men)

PWDs (peer-education)

750 750 (65% women)

PWDs benefiting from care or other assistance

175 177 (170 women and 7 men)

VI. Main project partners

- Association pour la Défense des Droits de la Femme or ADDF (Association for the Defence of Women’s Rights)

- The Burundi Ministry of National Solidarity, Ministry of National Solidarity, Human Rights and GenderHuman Rights and Gender

- 10 DPOs involved in the project

VII. Main project activities

1) Awareness-raising/training:

Organisation of round tables providing project information and raising awareness among the main stakeholdersDevelopment and dissemination of tools on GBVTraining of trainers on the topic of GBV and disabilityTraining of peer-educators on GBV and disabilityAwareness-raising among staff (welcome and assistance of victims) on the relationship between violence and disability and suitable approaches for inclusive actionAwareness-raising among local elected representatives and other community leaders on GBV and disability

(continued)

2) Treatment, care and support

- Setting up of a system to give PWDs access to appropriate services in case of violence

- Direct support for victims of violence

3) Studies:

- Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study on gender-based violence among PWDs

VIII. Main achievements

- 750 PWDs have been reached by awareness-raising action

- Awareness-raising of 299 local elected representatives and other community leaders on disability and GBV

- 177 PWDs have received support and assistance following violence

- Over 340,000 people have been reached by awareness-raising action

- Progressive integration of the disability dimension into tools for data collection on victims of violence and a “tentative” start to policy tools and legislation

IX. Main obstacles of the project

Operational pillar:• The complexity of the topic of GBV• The introduction of disability into the topic of GBV

in a context where the thinking behind the inclusion of disability is not yet understood

• Change in a context where there is no legislation to protect the rights of PWDs

• The project was implemented after the national strategy on GBV and its action plan had been approved without making any mention of the disability dimension

(cont.)

Financial pillar:• Limited funding opportunities with respect

to a “new problem” requiring a considerable amount of action

Human resources pillar:• A the start of the project only one unit of

staff was allocated to the project for all of the activities

Communication pillar: • Few sources working on the issue of

disability and violence (communication level)

(continued)

Solutions found or to be considered: • A pilot phase of the project has been

completed, attempts to find funding must continue

• Continue advocacy for the incorporation of disability aspects in national policy and strategy documents

X. Lessons learned from the project

- The inclusion of the disability dimension in GBV actions will only be effective if the issue of disability is incorporated into national policy

- Capacity-building must continue among PWDs so that they can be drivers of their own inclusion

- Policy documents in all sectors should always address accessibility issues for PWDs and other groups for whom equal opportunities requires prior adjustments

XI. Main documents

- Burundi Penal Code, Revised in 2009 (in French)

- KAP study report on gender-based violence among PWDs, 2009 (in French)

- “Au bout des violences, il y a des solutions” (Beyond Violence, There Are Solutions), April 2010, booklet in French, in Braille and translated into sign language (DVD)

XII. Ways forward

- Continue advocacy for the effective integration of the disability dimension into GBV actions

- Raise the awareness of elected representatives on disability-related issues

- Strengthen the capacity of DOPs to involve them in the response to GBV and enable them to contribute towards their own protection

- Raise the awareness of facilities offering treatment, care and support to victims of violence to the need to provide universally accessible services.

MURAKOZEMURAKOZE