Umwana w'umugore: The gendered realities of girls born of conflict-related sexual violence and their mothers in post-genocide Rwanda.

This article explores the challenges, needs and capacities of girls born of conflict-related sexual violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi. Twenty-nine interviews and 11 focus groups were conducted with girls born of genocidal rape, alongside 44 interviews with mothers of children born of genocidal rape. In a society where Umwana w'umugore - being 'the child of a woman' - is considered an insult for children born of rape, gendered realities profoundly shape girls' experiences. Data reveal that girls born of genocidal rape face challenges related to identity and belonging, multiple forms of violence and economic challenges. Moreover, girls sustain the indirect consequences of gender-based injustices committed against their mothers, making stigma and social exclusion shared and intergenerational experiences, alongside mutual care and support. Policy development must take into account the unique needs of girls born of rape, the precarious situation of their mothers and broader gender inequalities.

Mothers of children born of genocidal rape in Rwanda: Implications for mental health, well-being and psycho-social support interventions.

We explored the reality of mothers of children born of rape during the Rwandan genocide, particularly as it related to psychological well-being, stigma, recovery, and discussed relevant issues for mental health and psycho-social support interventions. Forty-four mothers participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Participants reported long-term psychological impacts resulting from sexual violence. Stigmatization and rejection from family and community aggravated psychological distress and affected their capacity to recover. Given participants' demonstrated capacity to overcome adversity, culturally appropriate mental health interventions are needed to promote well-being and social reintegration of mothers who bore children born of rape, while reducing stigmatization.

Tactical maneuvering and calculated risks: independent child migrants and the complex terrain of flight.

Similar to refugees in general, independent child migrants are frequently constructed in academic and popular discourse as passive and powerless or as untrustworthy and potentially threatening. Such portrayals fail to capture how these youth actively navigate the complex experiences of forced migration. Drawing on interviews with independent child migrants who arrived in Canada and on the conceptual framework of social navigation, we argue that contrary to being powerless, and despite significant structural barriers, these youth deliberately and thoughtfully navigate flight by making strategic decisions and taking calculated risks thereby ensuring their survival and well-being.