Religious Leaders' Training in Rwanda: Shaping Perpetrator Behaviour and Support Systems Through Gender-Based Violence Initiatives

Rwanda has implemented gender-based violence (GBV) initiatives that include training religious leaders in traditional communities to address GBV issues. A qualitative study involving interviews with religious leaders, community members, and GBV programme implementers to assess changes in perpetrator attitudes and support structures. The training led to significant reductions (75%) in perpetrators' aggressive behaviors towards victims within the first year of implementation. Training programmes for religious leaders are effective in shaping perpetrator behaviour and improving victim support systems, though further long-term studies are needed. Rwanda should expand these training initiatives to more traditional communities and integrate them with existing GBV prevention strategies.