In Rwanda, progress towards gender equality has been significant, but there are still key gender gaps that demand immediate attention. To ensure a more inclusive society, it is crucial to focus on areas such as education for teenage mothers, tackling malnutrition from the angle of teenage mothers, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the implementation comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), and gender affirmative action in public procurement. By addressing these gaps, we can pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Empowering teenage mothers and ensuring childhood care education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all. It is imperative to prioritise education for this vulnerable group, offering flexible learning options tailored to their needs. Alternative schooling or vocational training can provide opportunities for teenage mothers to acquire skills and knowledge, while childcare services support their educational journey. By empowering all teenage mothers through education, we break the cycle of poverty and ensure a brighter future for them and their children.

Tackling malnutrition

A focus on malnutrition remains a critical challenge, particularly among children born to teenage mothers. By addressing malnutrition from the angle of teenage mothers, we can significantly improve child survival rates. Providing nutritional support, education, and counselling to teenage mothers equips them with the knowledge and resources needed to ensure adequate nutrition for themselves and their children. Nutrition programmes, breastfeeding support, and access to nutritious food options are essential interventions in combating malnutrition and securing a healthier future for these vulnerable populations.

Reproductive health bill

Empowering young people with knowledge and providing them with access to accurate information and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services is crucial. Advocating for the reproductive health bill that allows teenagers from 15 years to access contraceptive services without parental consent is crucial. Such a bill would enable young people to make informed decisions regarding their sexual health, access contraception, and receive prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. By reducing unintended pregnancies and promoting healthier sexual practices, this bill safeguards the well-being and rights of young individuals.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Nurturing informed decision-making in Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) plays a vital role in promoting gender equality and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their bodies, relationships, and rights. Implementing CSE as a standalone course, taught by professional teachers, ensures the delivery of age-appropriate and evidence-based information. CSE should cover topics such as consent, gender equality, reproductive health, and healthy relationships. By equipping young individuals with knowledge and skills, we foster a culture of respect, reduce gender-based violence, and promote gender equality.

Gender affirmative action in public procurement

To address historical gender disparities and ensure that women-owned businesses and enterprises have equal opportunities, we need affirmative action in public procurement. To empower women entrepreneurs to achieve gender equality in economic participation, it is essential to implement at least 30 per cent gender affirmative action in public procurement. Where all public institutions allocate 30 per cent of their tenders to only women businesses.

By creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs, we empower them to thrive in the business world, narrowing the gender gap and promoting women’s economic empowerment. This not only benefits individual women but also contributes to sustainable economic growth and gender equality in society. Bridging gender gaps requires urgent action in various aspects of society.

By prioritising education for teenage mothers, tackling malnutrition, ensuring access to SRHR services, implementing comprehensive sexuality education, and promoting gender affirmative action in public procurement, we can forge a path towards a more inclusive future.

It is the collective responsibility of individuals, communities, civil society organisations, and the government to work hand in hand, addressing these gender gaps and fostering a society where everyone can thrive, regardless of their gender.