This year’s national Women’s Day celebrations will be held in Nduba Sector in Gasabo District on March 8 under the guidance of the National Women Council and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion in collaboration with Imbuto Foundation.

The International Women’s Day will be celebrated globally under the theme, "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality,” which is tailored to encourage men and women to act for positive change.

However, since each country comes up with a local theme, Rwanda’s celebrations will be under the theme, "Step it up for Gender Equality,” Strive for Women Empowerment.”

Speaking to the media, the Executive Secretary of the National Women Council, Jackline Kamanzi, said Nduba Sector has been chosen due to the achievements of women under the Igicyeri SACCO, a cooperative that used to save a few coins that has since grown to Rwf68 million in savings.

"This is a good opportunity to share with all Rwandans this initiative that will help them to develop,” she said, further encouraging the savings culture among women.

"Rwanda has registered significant achievements in promoting gender equality and empowerment of women ranging from; an enabling policy, legal and institutional framework, enhanced socio-economic and political participation and setting a global pace for equality between men and women.”

Activities will include providing support in form of livestock to vulnerable families, testimonies from women achievers, exhibitions of Women Initiatives and signing performance contracts that will be assessed on October 15, during International Rural Women’s Day.

This will be followed by the Women and Girl’s Month that runs from March 8 to April 4. The main activities will be conducted for whole month divided into four weeks where each week will have its own area of focus.

The first week will focus on women economic empowerment, participating in the Global Women’s Summit and the Peace through Business Conference.

The second focus will be on good governance which will include showcasing the role of women and their maturity in democracy and peace and radio and TV programmes by women leaders

The third will deal with justice that will include activities like Fighting GBV through community mobilisationconducting an anti teenage pregnancy campaign in secondary schools.

Social issues such as a campaign against Malaria in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, organising and participating in Umuganda focusing on sanitation and hygiene in households as well as fighting malnutrition will close month.

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