As the global community on March 8 celebrates International Women’s Day, it is time for everyone to reflect on their individual role in ensuring women are given their rightful place in the world. The theme for this year’s celebrations at the global level is; “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world.” The theme was shaped by the ongoing pandemic of Coronavirus, which has literary brought the world to its knees during the past year. In Rwanda, the day will be celebrated under the theme; “Women, be at the forefront in the Covid-19 World.” According to UNWOMEN, the theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and it was premised on their commanding role in the response to the pandemic. In Rwanda for instance, women have been exemplary on every front of this fight; as medical personnel, security, community health workers and not forgetting the young volunteers, who have braved the scorching sun and deadly rains as they helped authorities in enforcing measures against the virus in communities. The choice of this year’s theme is therefore a very important token of appreciation for our women. It is however sad that we had to wait for Covid-19 to be able to appreciate the role of women in our communities. They have been at the centre of every single fight globally but not much has been done to recognize their efforts if the statistics released by the Secretary-General of the UN. According to the figures, women are Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, and only 24.9 per cent of national parliamentarians are women. At the current rate of progress, gender equality among Heads of Government will take another 130 years, according to the UN. Fortunately for Rwanda, things are slightly better; in parliament over 60 per cent are women, while in cabinet they make up 52 per cent, which is far beyond the constitutionally prescribed 30 per cent of women in decision-making positions of every organisation. Years even before Covid-19, Rwanda’s leadership had made a decision to make sure that women are part of the journey to the country’s recovery process in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It is a decision that has never been regretted, as has been seen in many aspects. Despite such efforts and the resultant achievements, however, there so much that remains to be done to ensure women are in their rightful place in the development of our country. For instance, there are some archaic beliefs that still inhibit womens inclusion, while in some sectors like construction women remain highly underrepresented. It is therefore important that each one of us has introspection and have self-assessment on whether they are doing enough towards promotion of women. It starts right from the family level.
