The Chief Gender Monitor, Rose Rwabuhihi told female politicians on Friday that gender equality is not a programme, but a principle. She was addressing women in a workshop organized by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations (NFPO), that aimed to sensitize leaders of the women wings of political parties in the country about principles of gender equality in political organization structures. “Gender equality is a principle, and that’s how we should take it, and abide by it. it is not an expiring project, or a five-year programme, but a pillar on which good governance, human rights and democracy are built”, she said. The workshop focused on three issues; the gender policy, strategies to address issues of domestic violence and teenage pregnancy, and understanding gender equality as one of the fundamental principles enshrined in the constitution. The women were urged to address gender issues in their communities through innovation and having an inclusive ideology. Rwabuhihi explained that the constitution, although it has come a long way, is inclusive and what needs to be done is building from what already exists. “The first thing this country did was to create an enabling environment. We have a constitution, but it is based on ideology. The inclusive ideology that allows both men, women, those with disabilities, among others, to have equal rights is the foundation of all the inclusive policies”. Beyond numbers “It’s never perfect, tomorrow we might need to add some other things, but what is necessary has been done already. We just need to build from that foundation”, she added. Rose Rwabuhihi. Yvonne Uwayisenga, the leader of the women league of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), told The New Times that the way forward is to sensitize other women to join politics, not for the numbers, but rather to advocate and give their ideas, in all governance levels. “It is true that our country has come a long way in gender equality and complementarity, but as we have seen, there is still a gap”, she further explained. Achievements Land contributed to 37% of women access to credits, and this is because of the land law that now guarantees equal rights for men and women on land access, ownership and utilization, and the succession law-it stipulated equal inheritance rights between male and female. Access to ICT devices; where 84% of women have access to mobile phones, and 37% of women currently transact business using mobile money. In education, 50.3% of primary enrolment is female, 53.2% in secondary school enrolment, 43.8% in TVET’s enrolment, and 42.7% in tertiary institutions. Maternal mortality rate was reduced from 1,071 per 1000 in the year 2000, to 210 per 1000 in 2015. In decision making organs, 45.2% of District Advisory Councils are female, 49.7% in judiciary organs, and 52% in the cabinet. GBV protection policies, laws and strategies have been put in place; Isange One Stop Centre, Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, among others. Persisting Challenges Persistence of women involvement in subsistence farming, poverty among women and girls, limited participation of women in the private sector, Gender-Based Violence and its limited evidence, social norms and stereotypes, and high participation of women in unpaid care work (an average 25.3 hours per week compared to 13.5 hours for their male counterparts). According to GMO, annual report 2017-2018, in the total GBV cases received, 33.44% was economic violence, child rights 14.44%, sexual violence 13.2%, domestic violence 3.52%, physical violence 2.64%, non-execution of court judgement 1.76%, Human trafficking 0.85%, among others.
