Women Empowerment in Rwanda

Women Empowerment in Rwanda

 In Sub-Saharan Africa, women dominance in the political arena and social rights is significant in Rwanda among all the other nations, which formulate my research question (Berry,2015). Why do women dominate the leadership positions in Rwanda more than any other country? Introduction of women-friendly policies set by lawmakers contribute to their many leadership positions.

Following the genocide in Rwanda, women have been stepping up to occupy the leadership positions in the country and therefore upholding feminism. The conflict between Tutsi and Hutu cost the deaths of many people in the country, men being the majority. Men died, became disabled, and many of them became prisoners. The surviving population, which was about six million was primarily the female gender. The only alternative left was for women to step up and run the country (Abbott et al. 2018).

The  war effects were inclusive of the rape of at least a quarter of a million women according to reports. This tragedy brought out women in the human rights making efforts to protect the female gender and spearheading policies against the crime of rape (Berry,2015). Women dominate the political and social rights out of pragmatism and inevitability..

The leadership positions are predominantly held by women with the Rwandan Constitution clearly stating the percentage of legislative seats to be held by women. The women in parliament constitute 61% which is the highest not only in Africa but also in the world.  The supreme court seats are seven with four held by women with the deputy chief justice being a woman.

The policies set over the past years since the genocide have had positive effects on women majorly (Abbott et al. 2018). With the education for girl child being enhancement and more social rights for women being a concern for the lawmakers, the near-term prospects of policy change may still be a focus on women and their betterment and empowerment. In the long term, government progressive gender reforms will be in support of women leadership.

Works cited

Abbott, Pamela, Roger Mugisha, and Roger Sapsford. “Women, land and empowerment in Rwanda.” Journal of International Development 30.6 (2018): 1006-1022.

Berry, Marie E. “When “bright futures” fade: Paradoxes of women’s empowerment in Rwanda.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 41.1 (2015): 1-27.