There is need to create a better world in which every woman is treated with respect and dignity, every child is loved irrespective of their sex, and every family has hope for a better future, a Rwanda envoy has said.

Jean Pierre Karabaranga, the Rwandan ambassador to the Netherlands, made the remarks during belated Women’s Day celebrations at the Rwandan embassy in The Hague.

During the Saturday event, Rwandan and Dutch women celebrated their achievements.

The celebrations were organised by the embassy in partnership with Ishema, an association of Rwandan women living in The Netherlands.

Karabaranga said Rwanda had made significant progress toward gender empowerment, citing the 64 per cent female representation in Parliament, that makes Rwanda the only country in the world with a female dominated Parliament.

"There are also high levels of female representation at all levels of government and these achievements are supported by strong institutional measures, including policy and budgetary commitments in line with the second Economic Development Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2) process that seeks to bring gender equality into the mainstream of government policymaking,” he said.

Quoting President Paul Kagame, Karabaranga said women empowerment is key to national development.

Rwanda is now one of the best places to be a woman and girl in the world, he said.

The ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests, including Ingrid de Caluwe (MP for the VVD, a leading party in the Dutch government) who was the chief guest, member of the diplomatic community, International Women’s Contact in The Hague, the Rwandan Diaspora and friends of Rwanda in the Netherlands.

Ishema’s mission is to encourage Rwandan women living in the Netherlands to actively play a role in the development of Rwanda.

The association president, Christella Mukashema, said International Women’s Day provides a platform for women to celebrate their achievements and set new goals. The celebration featured cultural music and dance performances.

Barbara Couwenberg, from the International Women’s Contact, and Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands, who is also the Dean of African ambassadors, graced the event.

In Rwanda, the International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8 under the theme; "Let’s strengthen performance contracts in development.”

The annual event presents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

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