The Chairperson of the umbrella of women organizations in the country, Pro-femmes Twese Hamwe, Therese Bishagara, has urged people to embrace gender equality as a strong catalyst for sustainable development of the country.

Bishagara said this shortly after she was re-elected chairperson of the organization.

"Nations cannot attain sustainable development if husband and wife don’t have equal rights. That’s why we shall put more efforts in women emancipation,” Bishagara said in her acceptance speech.

The elections that took place last Sunday was organized by Pro-femmes Twese Hamwe General Assembly that also saw other leaders of the body elected.

Marie Immaculee Ingabire, who presided over the elections, thanked all who participated, stressing that empowering women, especially financially, is of paramount importance.

Ingabire also called upon women to fight domestic violence, calling upon her colleagues to help women, especially those living in rural areas, whom she said are susceptible to abuse because of over-dependence on their husbands.

She also called upon all 56 associations that make up Pro-femmes to sensitize other women on the laws that preserve women rights, among them, the succession law which entitles them to equal rights to property.

Established in 1992, Pro-femmes Twese Hamwe has been helping women across the country in capacity building, leadership, peace building, justice, unity and reconciliation, and fighting Gender Based Violence.

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