MPs to meet over women’s rights

Members of Parliament from both Chambers will tomorrow convene in a two-day seminar to assess the country’s situation regarding the implementation of the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Members of Parliament from both Chambers will tomorrow convene in a two-day seminar to assess the country’s situation regarding the implementation of the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The lawmakers will also be identifying actions to be taken by the Parliament to ensure a better implementation of the Convention in Rwanda.

The seminar aims at imparting MPs with information about regional and international instruments on women’s rights. It will particularly focus on the CEDAW and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on women’s rights in Africa.

Rwanda ratified this convention in 1981. As a result of this, last year’s legislative elections, Rwanda led the world in women representation with 45 seats for women out of 80 in the Chamber of Deputies representing 56.2 percent.

Also for the first time in the History of Rwanda, the parliament was entrusted with female Speaker.

Ends