The Selection Committee for the African Gender Award met at its 3rd meeting in Addis Ababa, on the 27th January 2007. It was presided over by the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Gertrude Mongella.

H.E. President Paul Kagame, Republic of Rwanda, receiving information from Ms. Rosalie Lo, FAS Program Officer, in relation to his election as 2007 African Gender recipient. President Kagame visited the Femmes Africa Solidarité stand in the Exhibition Hall at the 9th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

After a four hour deliberation, the jury voted to award Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.  48% of Rwanda’s parliament consists of women representatives whilst there is gender parity of students, and teachers in higher education. There have also been huge strides in achieving gender parity in the country’s judicial system, particularly in the gacaca courts, which have evolved from traditional communal law enforcement procedures.

H.E President Kagame 
This year the African Gender Award will be presented to H.E President Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda.

The Selection Committee elected President Kagamé at a meeting held on the margins of the 8th African Union Summit, in January 2007, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Committee was chaired by Hon. Ambassador Gertrude Mongella, President of the Pan-African Parliament. Full Text

Since the genocide in 1994, Rwanda has been distinguished for its integration of women into the reconstruction process; the fight against gender-based violence; and the protection of the rights of women and girls to equal education, economic development and ownership of property, particularly in rural zones.

Rwanda is the only country in the world where the national Parliament comprises 48% women deputies. It has also achieved gender parity in the distribution of teaching posts in higher education and in the country's judicial system. Equally, the highest post of responsibility in Kigali - the Mayor of the City - is currently held by a woman, Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira.

President Kagame has publicly urged the international community to fully utilize the talents and potential of women as 'it is painfully evident that gender inequality constrains growth and poverty reduction'. The 2007 African Gender Award ceremony, on the 15th June 2007, will celebrate the commitment of the Rwandan leadership to integrating women into Rwanda's policy making institutions.

 

Profemmes / Twese Hamwe

Established in 1992, Pro Femmes/Twese Hamwe is a network of 48 Rwandan civil society organisations that actively work for gender equality, peace and development in the country. Pro Femmes aims to promote the socioeconomic, political and legal position of women in Rwanda through numerous successful initiatives. The network brought the voices of women into the constitution drafting process, in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in the process of national reconciliation. The extremely high percentage of women in national parliament has much to do with the work of Pro Femmes. Its project ‘Women Can Do It’ trained women in leadership and campaigning for the 2003 national elections. Among its numerous successful projects and initiatives, Pro Femmes has also played an important part in sensitising the Rwandan police force to gender-based and domestic violence. Pro Femmes was also instrumental in the implementation of the gacaca courts judicial system, in particular, advocating for the protection of women victims of violence during the genocide.

Banque Populaire Pour la Promotion de la Femme

Created in 2001, the Banque Populaire Pour la Promotion de la Femme provides loans for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with a focus on SMEs run by Rwandan women. The mission of the BPPF is to support women and their contribution to the Rwandan economy by making it easier for women owners of SMEs to access credit and loans. In doing so, the BPPF empowers women and also helps to reduce poverty in the rural areas of Rwanda. The main objectives of the BPPF is to empower women – particularly disadvantaged women - by mobilizing the savings and encourage them to take part in activities that in turn provide revenues and therefore help them to solve some of their day-to-day problems.