Rwanda has a population estimated at 10.7 million (US State Dept, 2011) with an area of 26,338 sq km (10,169 sq miles). The capital is Kigali. The major languages are Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official) and Swahili.

Rwanda experienced Africa's worst genocide in 1994 where an estimated 800,000 people were killed. The country has experienced ethnic tension associated with the traditionally unequal relationship between the dominant Tutsi minority and the majority Hutus.

Over the last several years, the Government of Rwanda has made efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through various means. It has ratified numerous international instruments. Despite this high-level commitment, sexual and gender-based violence continues to pose a serious threat to many Rwandans, particularly women and girls.

• Rwanda ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in March, 2 1981
• Rwanda adopted its first National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) in 2009.  Please click here for more information.
• Rwanda had a UN peacekeeping mandate: United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) from October 1993 to March 1996 and United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) from June 1993 to September 1994

Sources:BBC; Amnesty International; UNIFEM