Page 21 - CoESPU Magazine 2017-3

RWANDA AND THE LONG ROAD TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

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On March 2015 a Rwandan delegation presented at the 59 session of the Commission on the
Status of Women which took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, and the main

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5 Rwanda Police Women Convention in Kigali - March 2014
focus was a review of progress made in implementing the 1995 Beijing declarations.
The event in a way was a celebration of the progress the country has made in line with women
empowerment, and here are the highlights (as regards progress) over the years.
DECISION MAKING
"The Fourth United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing 1995". “Women's National
Commission UK 24 April 2014". According to Rwanda’s report on the implementation of the 1995
Beijing declarations on the status of women launched, Rwanda has achieved a lot in as far as
putting in place laws, policies that have resulted in increased participation of women in decision-
making.
"Grace Gatera & Irene Nayebare (2013). Why Rwanda is a role model in women emancipation,
New Times Newspaper the report states". Women constitute 50 per cent of the judiciary, 39 per
cent cabinet, 40 per cent provincial governors, 43.2 per cent of district council members and 83.3
per cent of vice mayors in charge of social affairs.
Today, Rwanda leads the world in terms of women’s representation in parliament, increasing from
56.3 per cent in 2008 to 64% in 2013 elections.

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