{"id":110033,"date":"2025-09-15T10:55:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/mp-mukabalisa-discusses-rwandas-gender-equality-success"},"modified":"2025-09-15T11:23:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T11:23:32","slug":"mp-mukabalisa-discusses-rwandas-gender-equality-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/mp-mukabalisa-discusses-rwandas-gender-equality-success","title":{"rendered":"MP Mukabalisa Discusses Rwanda’s Gender Equality Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Germaine Mukabalisa, a member of the Rwandan Parliament, on Saturday, September 13, spoke to members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union\u2019s Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Lima, Peru, highlighting Rwanda\u2019s achievements in gender equality during her official visit.<\/p>\n

Rwanda stands out globally for its gender-equal representation, with women holding a majority in parliament: 63.75 percent in the Chamber of Deputies and 53.8 percent in the Senate.<\/p>\n

Germaine Mukabalisa, a member of the Rwandan Parliament and other members at the Inter-Parliamentary Union\u2019s Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Lima, Peru , on Saturday, September 13<\/p>\n

Rwanda views gender equality not just as a human rights issue, but as a strategic pillar for national development, peacebuilding, and economic growth, Mukabalisa told the Eleventh Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, themed \u201cUniting Generations for Gender Equality.\u201d<\/p>\n

She attributed Rwanda\u2019s success to embedding gender equality in all government policies and programs, reinforced by political will, robust legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cKey laws driving this progress include the Constitution guaranteeing equality and mandating women hold at least 30 percent of decision-making positions, the Organic Law on political parties, decentralization laws, and the Land Law. The latter has significantly boosted women\u2019s economic empowerment, contributing to 30 percent of their access to credit,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Other reforms include the Succession Law granting equal inheritance rights, the Organic Budget Law requiring a Gender Budget Statement in every national budget, and labor protections ensuring equal pay and penalizing workplace harassment.<\/p>\n

Mukabalisa also highlighted Rwanda\u2019s maternity leave policy of 12 weeks fully paid.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese measures empower women economically and socially, strengthening families and communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

However, global progress in gender equality in parliament remains slow. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women\u2019s representation in parliaments worldwide has increased from 11.3 percent in 1995 to 27.2 percent in 2025, with young women underrepresented; only 1.4 percent of MPs are under 30.<\/p>\n

Women parliamentarians face high levels of violence, harassment, and intimidation, with surveys showing up to 85 percent experiencing psychological violence during their mandates, according to the IPU.<\/p>\n

Beyond numbers, Mukabalisa said, women\u2019s empowerment has fueled Rwanda’s recovery and economic growth since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/p>\n

She quoted President Paul Kagame on gender equality: \u201cWe believe that, besides improving gender relations in our country, empowering women and promoting their socio-economic and political participation mark a healthy progress toward realizing our vision of a united, democratic and prosperous Rwanda.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lima conference also marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, emphasizing the urgency for parliaments to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality through stronger laws, gender-sensitive institutions, and action against gender-based violence.<\/p>\n\r\n