Rwanda is globally recognized for having made significant progress in advancing gender equality in various sectors and for creating equal opportunities for men and women. The east African country is an example in closing the gender gap. 

The Global Gender Gap Index 2022 ranked Rwanda as the first in Africa and the sixth, globally, in closing the gender gap.

Every March 8, Rwanda joins the world to celebrate International Women’s Day.

During the celebrations on March 8, 2022, President Paul Kagame stressed that equality is a right not a favour. He urged the nation to do much more, better, to ensure that the next generations of "our daughters and granddaughters inherit a nation" where their aspirations have no limits.

That speaks volumes about Rwandans gender equality journey.

After stopping the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, the RPF shifted the previously traditional patriarchal society into an inclusive society. Before 1999, customary laws and practices did not recognize women’s land rights. Women and girls could not inherit, own and control land as their brothers. Men dominated leadership positions in both government and the private sector.

The post-genocide Rwandan government challenged this old-style gender narrative with the aim of empowering women and making them feel respected, strong, and able to make positive changes in their society. Since 2003, Article 9 of the Rwandan Constitution guarantees a minimum of 30 per cent of posts in decision-making organs to women. The government adopted regional and international treaties, conventions and agreement that promote gender equality including but not limited to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979).

Rwanda is the first country, globally, with the highest number of women parliamentarians - 61.25 per cent in the Chamber of Deputies, way above the current global average of 26.4 per cent. Women also hold over 50 percent of Rwanda's ministerial positions.

In 2015, the government amended the 1999 law regarding matrimonial regimes, family donations and succession, to provide modalities of succession for female descendants who had been left out.

Adopted in 2016, the new law provides that both boys and girls have the same rights to inherit property from their parents. It also provides for equal property management among married couples.

Land reform in Rwanda also supported women to have equal rights with men on land access, ownership, and use. The move led to both men and women having land titles registered in their names.

Women’s access to land narrowed financial inequality and allowed many of them to use land titles as collateral to obtain bank loans and engage in income-generating activities.

 

Although there is still a number of challenges dragging women behind in terms of financial inclusion, the number of women who are banked greatly improved, rising from 24 per cent in 2016 to 34 per cent in 2021.

The legal and conducive policy environment highly contributed to the realization of gender equality and empowerment of women across different sectors in Rwanda.

The country initiated various programs and policies to eliminate gender disparities in education and promote girls' education. Many girls were required to focus on the household as future mothers and stimulated to marry young or seek employment instead of attending school.

Initiated in 2008, a Girl’s Education Policy eradicated barriers to girls’ education and increased girls’ access to and participation in secondary and higher education.

The policy, among others, provided remedial courses for girls seen as at risk of failing or dropping out of school and intensive remedial holiday courses for girls who wished to enter male-dominated fields. It ensured that 50 per cent of places for women or girls are reserved for entry into higher education to guarantee equal representation in the education sector.

Imbuto Foundation, under the leadership of First Lady Jeannette Kagame, boosted awareness on the benefits of girls’ education and offered awards and scholarships to best-performing girls nationwide.

The government made an effort to rise the participation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related subjects to increase their chances for employment and improved economic empowerment.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, in 2020 female students who were enrolled in STEM programs in upper secondary education comprised 51 per cent of total students while male students were 66 per cent. In tertiary education, only 32 per cent of female students were enrolled in STEM fields compared to 51 per cent of male students.

Rwanda’s priority is now advancing gender equality in digital and financial inclusion, and to continue challenging traditional gender norms.

Kagame, a strong champion of gender equality, knows that despite his country’s mammoth achievements, much more remains to be done to tackle bias attitudes about gender which are “deeply embedded in our political, social, and economic systems.”

“All of us share the responsibility to play an active role in changing these negative mindsets," he told over 6 000 delegates at the opening of Women Deliver 2023 Conference in Kigali, on July 17.

The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD2023), the first-ever on the African continent, took place in-person in Kigali as well as virtually, from July 17 to 20, as one of the largest multi-sectoral convenings to advance gender equality. It convened 6,000 people in Kigali and over 200,000 people online.

The conference organisers chose Rwanda as host because, among others, Rwanda is a source of inspiration to many nations. The country exemplifies gender equality and is looked to as a world leader and unique case study. There has been a lot of policy advancement around gender equality over, particularly, the last decade.