The Rwanda Association of University Women (RAUW) Thursday celebrated its grand break-through of having 36 percent representation in the Cabinet.

The ceremony which attracted women in different capacities both in public and private institutions was hosted by the wife to the United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Lesley Arietti, at their home in Kacyiru.

The ceremony was also aimed at bidding farewell to Ambassador and Mrs Arietti, whose assignment to Rwanda is coming to an end.

RAUW president Ambassador Joy Mukanyange expressed gratitude on the side of the government and in particular to President Paul Kagame for putting women’s values in the limelight.

"He has spared no effort in through empowerment of women, promotion of equality, and women’s rights," she said during the ceremony which also attracted several women dignitaries including cabinet ministers and senators.

She called upon collective effort, in realizing the association’s goals and objectives, which, are to promote human rights, especially women education.

"We believe everybody should have the opportunity to learn anytime in their life and education is the fundamental basis for development,’’ she said.

The 36 percent record of women representation in cabinet in Rwanda is one of the rare and unprecedented breakthroughs in women leadership in the world.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Linda Bihire, urged women not to misuse this opportunity, but use it to achieve full empowerment, and potential, encouraging women to always be aggressive in the pursuit and exploitation of these opportunities.

She called upon women not to fear pursuing courses in science and technology, saying they should not leave such courses only to men.

Mukanyange challenged women to struggle towards women emancipation by utilizing the atmosphere created by the government. She cited an example of Professor Wangai Mathai of Kenya, who won a Nobel price for struggling for women’s rights.

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