RWAMREC at CSW70: Advancing Women’s Access to Justice Through Gender-Transformative Approaches

From 9–13 March 2026, the Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC) participated in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year’s theme—Women and Girls’ Access to Justice—brought global attention to the urgent need for inclusive, effective, and community-driven justice systems.

Represented by Executive Director Fidele Rutayisire, RWAMREC contributed to global policy dialogue, shared evidence-based approaches from Rwanda, and strengthened strategic partnerships to scale impact in gender equality and violence prevention.

Positioning RWAMREC as a Leader in Engaging Men for Gender Equality

At CSW70, RWAMREC highlighted its gender-transformative programming, particularly its work engaging men and boys as key actors in advancing women’s rights and access to justice.

During the parallel event “Voices Across Borders: Women’s Solidarity Network,” RWAMREC emphasized that harmful social norms and unequal power relations remain critical barriers to justice. Drawing on successful models such as community-based couples’ dialogue and male engagement initiatives, RWAMREC demonstrated how shifting masculinities can:

• Increase reporting of gender-based violence (GBV)

• Reduce stigma and silence around abuse

• Strengthen trust in justice systems

This evidence reinforces RWAMREC’s role as a regional and global thought leader in addressing the root causes of inequality.

Bridging Legal Reform and Social Norm Change

In a second high-level discussion on equality systems in Europe, RWAMREC underscored a key message:

Access to justice is not only a legal issue—it is social, relational, and behavioral.

While legal frameworks are essential, they must be complemented by:

• Community-level interventions

• Behavior change programming

• Engagement of men and boys

• Strengthening accountability within families and communities

RWAMREC’s integrated approach reflects a growing global consensus that sustainable gender equality requires both institutional reform and social transformation.

Strengthening Partnerships and Collective Action

CSW70 provided a key platform for RWAMREC to engage with global actors and contribute to collective efforts advancing gender equality and access to justice.

Throughout the session, RWAMREC connected with civil society organizations, international partners, and institutional stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share promising practices, and strengthen collaboration around gender-transformative approaches. These engagements emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing deeply rooted social norms and structural inequalities.

Discussions also highlighted the need to scale community-based interventions that engage men and boys, promote positive masculinities, and address the intersections between gender, climate change, and peacebuilding. RWAMREC contributed its experience in implementing locally grounded solutions that have the potential to inform broader regional and global efforts.

By actively participating in these dialogues, RWAMREC reaffirmed its commitment to building alliances, amplifying local voices, and contributing to global advocacy efforts aimed at creating more inclusive and equitable justice systems.

Global Policy Outcomes and Relevance for Programming

The adoption of the CSW70 Agreed Conclusions provides a global roadmap that strongly aligns with RWAMREC’s mission and programming priorities.

Key priorities include:

• Eliminating discriminatory laws and practices

• Strengthening responses to violence against women and girls, including digital violence

• Promoting women’s economic rights and equal pay

• Expanding access to justice through digital innovation

• Recognizing the role of community-based justice actors and paralegals

These outcomes validate RWAMREC’s long-standing commitment to community-driven, gender-transformative approaches.

Key Insights for Advocacy and Action

RWAMREC’s participation in CSW70 reinforces several critical priorities for advancing gender equality:

• Transforming harmful social norms is essential to improving access to justice

• Engaging men and boys is key to preventing violence and promoting equality

• Community-based approaches are central to reaching marginalized women

• Integrated strategies combining legal reform and social change are necessary for lasting impact

• Global solidarity is needed to address ongoing resistance and backlash against gender equality

Looking Ahead: Sustaining Momentum for Gender Equality

CSW70 reaffirmed the importance of sustained, coordinated efforts to ensure that women and girls can fully access and benefit from justice systems.

RWAMREC will continue to advance this agenda by:

• Promoting gender-transformative approaches that engage men and boys

• Strengthening community dialogue and prevention initiatives

• Contributing to national, regional, and global advocacy efforts

• Supporting inclusive policies that address both structural and social barriers

By combining grass-root experience with global engagement, RWAMREC remains committed to building a society where justice is accessible, responsive, and equitable for all.