Mary Balikungeri

Mary Balikungeri is the Founder and Director of Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and a distinguished Gender and Development specialist with over two decades of experience advancing the rights and wellbeing of women and girls in Rwanda and beyond. She has dedicated her life’s mission to ending gender-based violence by empowering survivors to heal, rebuild their dignity, and become influential leaders within their communities. Born in Rwanda, Mary was only six years old when violence against the Tutsi forced her family into exile in Uganda. Growing up as a refugee exposed her to injustice and hardship, but it also opened opportunities, including access to education and leadership development. These early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to gender equality, peacebuilding, and social justice. Following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Mary returned to Rwanda determined to support women who had endured profound trauma and loss. In 1997, she founded Rwanda Women’s Network with a vision to create safe, supportive spaces where women could heal and rebuild their lives. What began as a grassroots initiative has since grown into a nationally recognized organization transforming thousands of lives across Rwanda. One of Mary’s most significant contributions is the development of the Polyclinic of Hope, a holistic approach that integrates psychosocial support, medical care, economic empowerment, and community engagement for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. This Polyclinic of Hope has contributed to the establishment of Women Safe Spaces across Rwanda, providing survivors with safe environments to access services, rebuild confidence, raise awareness on GBV, and participate in community-driven transformation. Mary is a powerful advocate for policy change and institutional collaboration. Through her leadership, Rwanda Women’s Network has strengthened partnerships between communities, civil society organizations, and local authorities to promote sustainable GBV prevention and response mechanisms. She actively contributes to national and global advocacy platforms promoting Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality, ensuring grassroots voices inform policy and decision-making processes. Beyond service delivery, Mary strongly believes that economic empowerment is essential to breaking cycles of violence. Under her leadership, RWN integrates financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, and leadership training into its programs to ensure that women gain the skills and confidence needed to achieve independence and resilience. As she often emphasizes, economic stability enables women to protect themselves, support their families, and actively participate in community leadership. Mary’s influence extends regionally and internationally. She currently serves as Chairperson of the African Network of Women Shelters (ANWS), an affiliate of the Global Network of Women Shelters, where she contributes to strengthening global efforts to end violence against women and girls. She has also served as the African delegate on the UNAIDS Board and actively participates in regional and global networks including Profemmes Twese Hamwe, FEMNET, EASSI, and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. Through these engagements, she continues to elevate local realities to global advocacy spaces and strengthen collective action for women’s rights. In recognition of her exceptional leadership and dedication to social change, Mary Balikungeri was honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Point of Light Award for her inspirational work supporting survivors of gender-based violence. Despite her many achievements, Mary remains deeply committed to mentoring future generations of women leaders. She draws inspiration from seeing young women empowered through RWN programs take up leadership roles nationally and internationally. She continues to encourage young women to remain confident, assertive, and committed to unlocking their potential to drive positive social transformation.

Under her leadership, RWN has established 24 Women Safe Spaces across 12 districts, developed comprehensive programs addressing gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and women's leadership, and become a respected voice in national gender policy discussions.