KIGALI - President Paul Kagame has promoted all Rwandans and given each one a platform to showcase their ability, a move that has worked as a stepping stone towards the development of the nation, the Speaker of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana said yesterday.

Addressing thousands of women who had turned up at Amahoro Stadium after the "One Million Women’s March for a better future,” Mukantabana said that the achievements recorded by women were numerous and are mostly be attributed to good leadership.

First Lady, Jeannette Kagame and the president of the Supreme Court, Aloysia Cyanzaire also participated in the March.

"We are here because of our good leadership. Our President has put the promotion of human rights at the forefront and today we are here to celebrate that,” Mukantabana said.
She also spoke about the country’s history and how much progress it has made.

"Rwanda was talked about all over the world during the genocide. It made news on radio, television and newspapers globally, for only the wrong reasons,” Mukantabana said. "Right now, what everyone’s wants to know is how we got here, how we have achieved all this development and progress in only 16 years.” "Being a Rwandan is a source of pride,” she added

The audience was informed of the areas that women were targeting to work on vigorously.

These included, voting, promoting peace, fighting violence and conflict, protecting the environment, family planning, and the Kigali City Master plan.

Meanwhile, hundreds of women, girls and men from various parts of Nyarugenge district also took part in the "One Million Women’s March for a Better Future” organized at the district level.

All dressed in white T-Shirts and caps, they marched from the sector headquarters of Nyakabanda and Rwezamenyo, then converged at Nyamirambo Regional Stadium.

MP Aurelie Gahongayire who presided over the function observed that women in the country have achieved a lot in terms of economic development, social welfare and justice.
"For development to take its course, women in Rwanda were seen as essential,” she said.

Gahongayire attributed all the achievements recorded by women, especially equal rights, to the good leadership that Rwanda has.

She, however, said that despite the achievements, there is still a lot to be done, pointing out poverty and illiteracy as issues that need to be dealt with.

The March came ahead of a two day international conference bringing together gender and women rights stakeholders from all over the world, to discuss the "Role of Leadership in Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.”

Ends