Michelle Obama addressing and acknowledging Rwanda as an evolved country because of how they treat their women
The United States of America First Lady, Michelle Obama yesterday spoke highly of the government of Rwanda about its efforts in supporting women.
Michelle Obama who was speaking at the Young African Leaders (YALI) 2014 Summit in Washington also said Rwanda has greatly evolved particularly on gender equality.
Rwanda has recorded high in female African Leaders compared to other countries in which their position in leadership count at 30% whereas it is above 50% in Rwanda
On her official twitter page, ‘FLOTUS’ Michelle Obama recognized the number of women in the parliament of Rwanda and credited Rwandan men as saying: “any man who uses his strength to oppress a woman is a coward”
Responding to the US First Lady speech and on her twitter page, most followers were in support of her statement on Rwanda. One of the comments said: “Apparently Rwanda is the safest, cleanest, most civilized country in Africa….”
Even the US congress is behind Rwanda in promoting women position in leadership “In Rwanda, women in Parliament are more than 50%, more than double the percentage of women in the US Congress” remarked Michelle Obama
Rwanda’s First Lady Jeannette Kagame helped found the Rwanda Women Leaders Network in December 2011and has always been at the forefront in campaign for women rights in the country and Africa at large
The independence newspaper published findings from a study done in collaboration with several charities in 2012, showing that Rwanda is the second best place for women to succeed.
“Rwanda is the only nation in which females make up the majority of parliamentarians. Women hold 45 out of 80 seats,” stated the findings.
According to the said research, “The UK is 45th, behind Pakistan and United Arab Emirates. Other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Oman and Belize, had no women in parliament by the time the statement was published.”
Rwanda’s constitution stipulates that women must hold at least 30 percent of leadership position in all instances of government. In addition, women politicians have formed many other organs through which they campaign for women rights.
Rwanda Women Network, is more of a national platform for women, with representation down to sector level, a network that involves almost all women both in Rural and urban areas.
President Paul Kagame has received several global awards for his role in women emancipation. In his cabinet, there are more women than many other regional neighbors.
85 percent of countries have improved conditions for women over the past six to seven years, according to the World Economic Forum, but in economic and political terms there is still a long way to go; a reason why Rwanda emerges top among the rest. The country has touched all sectors and women are ahead.
In the last parliamentary elections (2013), Rwandan women had overwhelming majority in the national Assembly; with 51 out 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (64 percent) occupied by women.
Rwanda already led the world with the highest number of women in Parliament at 56 percent in the parliamentary term (2008-2013). With an increase of 8 percent, Rwanda is at the peak of the World Political record and the highest level of gender equality and democracy.