Leaders, advocates and youth gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to commemorate International Women’s Day ahead of the opening of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Delivering Rwanda’s national statement, on Monday, March 9, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, said access to justice remains vital in addressing barriers that undermine women’s rights and dignity.

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"Access to justice is an important tool for achieving gender equality and challenging structural barriers to women’s rights and dignity.”

She noted that Rwanda’s understanding of justice goes beyond access to courts and includes policies and legal frameworks designed to respond to women’s everyday realities.

"In Rwanda, access to justice is understood not only as having access to courts, but more importantly, benefitting from policies and legal frameworks that are responsive to women’s realities.”

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Uwimana highlighted several national initiatives aimed at promoting the protection and empowerment of women and girls.

Among them are Isange One Stop Centres, which provide integrated services to survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking across the country.

"These are holistic safe spaces that provide free, integrated, and care-based services - all over the country - to survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking.”

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According to the minister, the centres offer a comprehensive support package that includes medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, investigations, referrals to prosecution services, temporary shelter, and reintegration.

Rwanda has also continued to make progress in promoting women’s participation in leadership and governance.

Uwimana noted that the country has surpassed minimum global benchmarks for women’s representation in decision making institutions.

"Women hold 64 per cent of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 46 per cent in Senate, and 55 per cent in the judiciary.”

She added that women currently occupy key national leadership roles, including Chief Justice, Prosecutor General and Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission. Women are also increasingly visible in emerging sectors such as biotechnology, space science and climate governance.

Beyond its borders, Rwanda has also extended its commitment to protecting women and girls affected by conflict.

Uwimana cited the relocation of an Afghan girls’ school to Rwanda in 2021, where students have continued their education in safety.

She concluded by recalling the message of President Paul Kagame during International Women’s Day, highlighting the role women play in Rwanda’s transformation.

"We celebrate the foundational role women continue to play in Rwanda’s transformation," Kagame said. Your ingenuity and leadership continue to affirm a simple truth: a nation can only truly progress when inclusion and equality are upheld in every sphere.”