Speaker of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana and a member of the Forum for Women Parliamentarians yesterday challenged the forum to eradicate poverty among women and the country at large.

The Speaker said this in Rubavu District, while addressing members of the association.

 The two-day meeting was convened to among other things review the2010/2011 financial year, elect a new leadership committee and consolidate achievements.

"Now that Rwanda is world model in women representation in key decision making organs, the forum should take another step in emancipating women and the entire country economically,” said Mukantabana.

The fifteen year old association also received and accepted new members who had earlier requested to join the lawmakers’ group.

"Although the government has done a great job in regard to gender equality, we should not be complacent but rather aim higher to establish mechanisms to become economically self sustaining,” added Mukantabana.

Provincial Governor, Celestine Kabayizi, commended the government for reducing gender imbalance and championing affirmative action.

"Although there are equal opportunities for all in the country, we still face a problem of gender based violence which must be stopped,” explained Kabayizi.

The Governor also warned that the population explosion was putting pressure on the country’s resources and called for innovative measures to tackle the problem.

Family planning, encouraging women to deliver from hospitals and the general welfare of citizens were among the issues the women parliamentarians underlined.

Ends