The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is holding a three-day workshop in Kigali to consult Government and other stakeholders on the formulation of its five-year.

The UN Women was created last year with an aim of fighting violence against women and girls through working with governments to establish legal and policy framework and also facilitate women empowerment.

"Gender equality is at the centre of Rwanda`s development agenda and the outcome of this high-level consultation will provide key pillars for UN Women`s work plan in this country within the One UN,” said Diana Ofwona, the UN Women Regional Director for Central Africa.

The newly created organ has merged responsibilities of four UN bodies; UNIFEM, the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) and Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the advancement of Women (OSAGI).

The workshop which is part of an ongoing global exercise to feed the organization`s global strategic plan, attracted representatives from various public and private institutions in the fight of violence against women.

In her presentation, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Maria Mukantabana, who also doubles as chairperson of Rwanda Women Parliamentarians Forum (FFRP), highlighted the strategies the government has put in place to promote women.

"The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the Gender Monitoring Office and the National Women Council (NWC), among other institutions, have been established to champion women’s rights,” she said. 

The workshop is expected to provide updates on the progress towards the achievement of gender equality, challenges and way forward to give a baseline on UN Women operations in the country.  

The event that also marked the launch of UN Women in the country was officiated over by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Monique Nsanzabaganwa. 

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