The Health and Justice Project teaches WE-ACTx patients and community groups about human rights under Rwandan and international law, to empower women and orphans caring for younger siblings to take action to resolve the legal problems they and their families face. Mediation and assistance are also provided in complex cases.
Human Rights Education and Training
The Health and Justice Project (formerly known as The Legal Project), along with its sister organization, WE-ACTx for Hope, in Kigali, Rwanda, has published Know Your Rights!, a reader-friendly, health-care rights handbook for women and their families, available in two languages:
Grassroots leaders, Rwandan legal experts, the Ministry of Health and other government agencies consulted with the Health and Justice Project extensively on the handbook. In addition to health care rights, the handbook addresses property, inheritance, paternity, custody and discrimination, as well as gender-based violence prevention and intervention.
Today, the handbook is used in Rwanda to train WE-ACTx partner organizations, community leaders, law students, trauma counselors, and health care providers about human rights. With “each one, teaches one,” entire communities can learn.
A legal rights hand book for children is also available now:
Mediation and Advocacy
Joseph Mafurebo is the Director of the Health and Justice Project of our sister organization, WE-ACTx for Hope, and is based in Kigali, Rwanda. As an attorney and mediator, Mr. Mafurebo assists women and children referred through WE-ACTx clinics or community partner associations.
The Health and Justice Project offers concrete solutions. Women and children with HIV face a variety of legal problems that can undermine the positive effects of the medical care and trauma counseling they receive through WE-ACTx clinics. With human rights education and necessary assistance, patients gain the opportunity not only to survive but thrive.
The Health and Justice Project also advocates for policy changes to improve Rwanda’s health, social services and education programs for women and their families. Recent successes include improvements in AIDS drug-importation policies and progress towards providing prompt treatment for gender-based survivors in the public health system, free of charge, and with dignity and respect.
Download Our Publications
Know Your Rights! A community handbook on health care rights and other laws for women and families.
(Download PDF documents below):
Know Your Rights! Children’s Rights Handbook. A handbook on using the law for young people and their advocates.
Women's Equity in Access to Care & Treatment