Mary BALIKUNGERI | From Survival To Governance

Mary Balikungeri is a Rwandan human rights defender, peacebuilder, and advocate for gender justice.

Following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, she founded the Rwanda Women’s Network to support survivors and help rebuild communities affected by violence and trauma.

Having experienced displacement herself
as a refugee during her childhood, Mary dedicated her life to fighting injustice, ending gender-based violence, and promoting women’s leadership.
Through initiatives such as the Polyclinic of Hope, she created safe spaces where women could heal, access psychosocial support, rebuild their lives, and become leaders within their communities.
Her work combines trauma healing, economic empowerment, peacebuilding, and advocacy, with a strong focus on women’s participation in social transformation and reconciliation.

Today, she also serves as Chairperson of the Africa Network of Women Shelters, continuing to advance women’s rights and community resilience across the region.