Many women still remain far from socio-economic empowerment and the National Women Council has a lot to do to ensure that all women in the country are well advocated for.

This was said yesterday by Oda Gasinzigwa, the minister for gender and family promotion, as she presided over the handover of office from Christine Tuyisenge to new National Women Council executive secretary Jacqueline Kamanzi Masabo.

"Let’s exploit all available opportunities to ensure every woman is empowered, especially the illiterate ones to reduce the poverty affecting them. You must make your impact felt right from the village level,” the minister said, stressing that women at the grassroots are especially in need of the Council’s support.

"The Council should strengthen the collaboration with the local committee and local leaders to discern problems facing women,” Gasinzigwa said.

Enlightment

The minister said women sometimes have opportunities in their midst but they are not aware of how they can exploit them to change their lives and those of their families.

"They need your commitment to enlighten them on laws that support them or development projects.”

Tuyisenge, who had been at the helm of the council since 2008, said although a lot has been achieved, more efforts are still needed to uproot key problems afflicting women such as poverty, gender violence, human trafficking, sexual violence and malnutrition.

Kamanzi said her efforts will also be put in getting girls and women off the streets, besides fighting poverty and gender based violence.

Kamanzi was, prior to her appointment, working with Public Service Commission.

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