‘A fundamental right’: UAE and Rwanda reaffirm commitment to gender equality on International Women’s Day – News

The UAE’s presidential directive currently ensures that Emirati women must occupy 50% of the seats in the Federal National Council (Parliament)

Images for representational purposes

Rwanda joins the United Arab Emirates and other countries around the world in focusing on remarkable progress in gender equality as the international community celebrates International Women’s Day on Wednesday.

The celebration comes as gender equality continues to gain momentum in the two friendly nations. As of 1 January 2023, the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Women in Parliament 2022 report ranks Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates among six countries in the world that have achieved gender parity in their lower or single houses of parliament.

Reflecting on Women’s Day, Emmanuel Hategeka, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the UAE, said: “Rwanda and [the] The UAE shares a commitment to gender equality, and our two countries continue to be gender equality champions in our respective regions and globally, as outlined in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 2022 report. Gender equality is embedded in the long-term vision of our two countries and is supported by good leadership. This International Women’s Day reminds us that gender equality is a fundamental right and a pillar of just and inclusive development. “

Rwanda and the UAE have unlocked the potential of women through strong policy and regulatory frameworks. The Rwandan Constitution provides for a minimum quota of at least 30% women in decision-making bodies. At present, Rwanda is the first country in the world with the highest proportion of female representatives in parliament, reaching 61.3%.

On the other hand, the UAE Presidential Decree that Emirati women must occupy 50% of the seats in the Federal National Assembly (Parliament) is a testament to the country’s commendable commitment to gender equality.

At the end of the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, October 2022, parliamentarians from around the world adopted the Kigali Gender Equality Declaration, which sees a gender-sensitive parliament as transformative to build a more resilient and peaceful world.

In the nearly three decades since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, Rwanda has put gender equality at the forefront of sustainable development. The country sees gender equality more as a strategy for inclusive development, good governance and respect for human rights. For this reason, gender equality has been embedded in different legal frameworks from the beginning of the Constitution, which places respect for gender equality among its basic principles.

The 2003 Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, amended in 2015, provides for equal rights for men and women. In addition, laws governing the institution of marriage, donations and inheritance provide for equal inheritance rights for men and women and equal rights for married couples to administer property; Rwanda’s land law guarantees equal rights for men and women in terms of access, ownership and use of land.

The government advocates for equal access to education, healthcare, the labor market and all opportunities. These initiatives have paid off, and according to the 2015 Global Competitiveness Report, Rwanda was named the best place for women in Africa and sixth globally. It is the first country in Africa to close the gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report. When it comes to security, Rwandan women contribute beyond borders through peacekeeping operations. Rwanda has one of the highest numbers of female police peacekeepers in UN missions.

Promoting and sustaining gender equality and equity is an ongoing process in Rwanda and elsewhere in the world. There are still multiple stereotypes and prejudices that need to be eradicated.

“Despite all the achievements in gender equality, we still have common stereotypes and gender biases in the workplace, work and career orientation biases based on gender, behavioral biases, etc. Dimension elimination,” concluded Ambassador Emmanuel Hategeka.