EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA — An official of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) has urged district leaders to put gender among their next year’s priorities.

Josephine Uwimana, RALGA’s Gender Programme officer said clear policies should be put in place to promote gender in districts.

She was speaking during an annual meeting to assess achievements registered this year and to lay next year’s strategies to promote gender. The meeting took place at Avega offices in Rwamagana district on Wednesday.

"As we look at the obstacles in promoting gender, we have realised that some people including local leaders have not yet understood what gender means. They think gender is about women,” Uwimana said, and noted that local leaders have previously not considered gender among their priorities.

Gender comes among the last issues to be handled, which should not be the case, as a result less money has been allocated to it, she added. 

"We are now looking at how the central government can allocate more money towards it. And leaders will have to show how they promote gender,” she said.

Uwimana asserted that RALGA will ensure proper handling of cases relating to gender based violence and violence against children.

RALGA will also help sensitise leaders about the necessary laws to protect gender based violence, according Uwimana. RALGA encourages women to step up and participate in decision making.

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