KIGALI - Rwanda will be playing host to 400 people who will be attending the International Conference on Gender, the Vice Speaker of the Senate, Marie Mukantabana, has revealed.

She told members of the press this week that the conference, scheduled for mid-next month, will discuss governance, peace, justice and security among other topics.

"We will be discussing how to fight gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, gender and the environment, and women’s health and education, among others,” she said.

The conference theme is; "The Role of Leadership in Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment”.
She pointed out that the conference will have several components including what she termed as a "One Million Women’s March for a better future”.

"One Million Women’s March for a better future’ will see women across the country march to celebrate the advancement of women and to show their support for the continuous commitment to promoting, accelerating and sustaining women’s empowerment and gender equality,” she said.

Mukantabana also explained that the conference sessions will be tailored to foster collaboration and interaction among a diverse group of participants.

"Documentaries and films on best practices will be screened and field visits will be conducted to offer participants a firsthand look at how Rwanda’s efforts to promote gender equality are being implemented,” she said.

The conference coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA) and the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security.

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