The World Bank Group has committed $15 million to provide integrated health and counseling services as well as legal aid to victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Rwanda.

This financial agreement is part of a $107 million regional project, the Great Lakes Emergency SGBV and Women's Health Project, approved by the World Bank's board of executive directors on June 28, which concerns Burundi, the DR Congo, Rwanda and the International Conference to the Great Lakes Region, to help victims of such crimes.

"Rwanda remains committed to drastically reduce SGBV and to offer victims appropriate services to free all citizens from all forms of violence and discrimination," said Claver Gatete, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government.

The project will support short and medium term assistance to SGBV victims at both community and health facility levels through scaling-up the Isange one-stop centers while promoting gender equality, behavioral change and violence prevention. The project will strengthen 6 of the existing 9 centers and establish 17 new ones in the remaining districts of the country in accordance with the national strategy.

"The developmental impact of sexual violence is high and requires an integrated approach to support some of the most vulnerable populations in the Great Lakes region as well as Rwanda," said Carolyn Turk, World Bank country manager for Rwanda

The ministry of gender and family promotion will implement the programs, and its permanent secretary Henriette Umulisa said the funds will help implementing a range of programs that the ministry has identified, among them the fighting against the violence done to men, and involving men in the fighting against the GBV, which she said is still on the rise.

The Great Lakes Emergency SGBV and Women's Health Project will directly benefit over 29,000 women and girls in Rwanda while supporting and complementing the ongoing efforts by the government.