A local NGO, Avega Agahozo, will launch a project to provide legal support in property and inheritance to female Genocide survivors infected and affected by HIV AIDS in July, 2011.

Avega Agahozo will partner with a number of NGOs including UN Women, which donated US$ 75,000 to the project.

According to the president of Avega, Chantal Kabasinga, most of the survivors are incapable of pursuing their legal rights.

"Most of them are suffering from poor health, poverty, trauma and stigma, resulting into resignation of victims from pursuing their property and inheritance rights. That is why we have come in to help them sort out their legal issues,” Kabasinga said.

She added that the project would increase the awareness of target beneficiaries on property and inheritance rights and resolve property and inheritance disputes through mediation.

Francoise Umurungi, the Coordinator of Avega Central, reiterated that the project also aims at enhancing the capacity of HIV positive Genocide widows to claim and access their property and inheritance rights.

"We are going to provide training pertaining to property rights and inheritance. Two legal and 100 paralegals officers will receive training and advise beneficiaries seeking guidance on these issues,” revealed the Central Coordinator.

Umurungi noted that Avega currently has over 80,000 beneficiaries. She added it has coordinators and counselors spread in all the provinces, countrywide, to help traumatised genocide victims.

The coordinator further disclosed that they would prepare legal documents for the victims and assume all legal representation costs in property and inheritance cases among poverty-stricken widows in need of professional legal services.

Ends