Introduction
Rwanda’s Third National Action Plan (RNAP III) covers the period FY2023/2024 to FY2027/2028. It is Rwanda’s third framework for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and builds on RNAP I (2009–2012) and RNAP II (2018–2022).
Objectives of Rwanda’s NAP
The overall goal of RNAP III is to ensure sustained peace and security through the meaningful participation of women in peace and development processes.
The five core objectives are to:
1. Promote women’s participation and leadership in governance and peace processes
2. Prevent violence and conflict and strengthen social cohesion
3. Protect women and girls from all forms of violence
4. Ensure women’s access to relief, economic recovery and rehabilitation
5. Mainstream gender in foreign service, regional and international peace processes
Country Context
Rwanda’s approach to Women, Peace and Security is shaped by its post-genocide reconstruction experience, in which women played a central role in rebuilding social cohesion, justice, and national unity. During the liberation struggle, women served as fighters, intelligence officers, mobilisers, and logisticians within the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPA), and many later continued to serve in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and national security institutions. Even before the adoption of UNSCR 1325, women were therefore mobilised as community leaders, peacebuilders and political actors. This legacy has translated into strong political commitment to gender equality, reflected in Rwanda’s global leadership in women’s representation in parliament and governance. RNAP III explicitly links peace, security, and development, positioning women not only as beneficiaries of protection but as strategic actors in preventing conflict and sustaining peace.
Civil Society engagement in the development of the NAP
RNAP III was developed through an inclusive and structured consultative process involving government institutions, civil society organisations, research institutions, and development partners. The process comprised national consultations, stakeholder interviews and validation workshops. Civil society organisations, including BENIMPUHWE and PROFEMMES TWESE HAMWE, actively contributed to the consultations and participated in the validation of the draft National Action Plan.
Rwanda’s RNAP III is closely aligned with SecurityWomen’s mission through its emphasis on women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping, security sector reform, and conflict prevention. The Plan commits to expanding women’s deployment in peacekeeping operations, strengthening gender-responsive training within security institutions, and enforcing zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence in operational contexts. RNAP III further promotes women’s leadership across the defence, police, and corrections services and institutionalises gender mainstreaming within foreign service and international peace cooperation, thereby advancing inclusive, effective, and gender-responsive peace and security governance.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
As of March 31, 2025, Rwanda contributed a total of 5891 Peacekeeping personnel (of which 660 are female):
Rwanda’s ranking as a contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping missions: 2
Women’s role in peacekeeping:
However, women comprise only 10.5% of that total 5897, though women do make up large proportions of the police units and experts on missions, as can be seen in the table below:
References and Sources:
Rwanda’s 2018-2022 NAP is at: *Rwanda-NAP-2-2018-2022.pdf (wpsnaps.org)
Other policy documents relating to Rwanda’s 2018-2022 NAP, commitment to WPS and gender equality can be found on the Rwanda Government’s website at:
https://www.migeprof.gov.rw/publications/policies-strategic-documents
and https://www.ogs.gov.rw/government/facts-and-figures-4-2-1
UN’s special tribute to Rwanda for its contribution to peacekeeping missions: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/rwanda
Ranking of countries by contribution January 2025Troop and police contributors | United Nations Peacekeeping
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission and Personnel Type (January 2025) 03-Contributions by Country and Mission
Government of Rwanda (2024). The Third Rwanda National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 (RNAP III), FY2023/2024 – FY2027/2028. Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF)
Updated Jan 2026