As the world celebrates the International Women’s Day, Rwandan women possibly have more to celebrate than others. With the all inclusive gender policies in place, the benefits have began to show. The Rwandan women and girls have their place firmly in society but the journey has not been without its hitches. Rwanda, like many African societies, is traditionally patriarchal, where women were regarded as inferior to their brothers, especially when it came to inheritance rights. The fight to change that mindset is perhaps the most important victory as changing traditional beliefs is never easy. All that now is history. Today, women are flying high and Rwanda is always regarded as the poster boy in gender equality. Not only does it enjoy the highest global female representation in parliament, they also represent 40 percent of cabinet positions, well above the 30 percent threshold allowed for affirmative action. Now, the onus is on the women, to prove that their successes were not hinged only on the affirmative action, that it was based on merit, so that in future, the 30 percent reservation for any post, is done away with altogether. But all things said, Rwandan women have shown their grit and will to prove critics wrong; that they merit where they are. One can only wish them more success in future and a happy Women’s Day celebrations.
