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African forum calls for gender equality

Tegegnework Gettu, Regional Director of UNDP Africa made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Pre-AGF-VIII Policy Dialogue on “Gender Equality, Elections and the Management of Diversity in Africa” on Tuesday 1st November in Kigali, Rwanda. The two-day workshop is jointly hosted by the Government of Rwanda, African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The opening ceremony, which was chaired by Mr. Aurelien A. Agbenonci, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative – Rwanda also featured the Minster of Gender and Family Promotion of Rwanda, Honorable Aloisea Inyumba.
Mr. Gettu in his keynote address observed that Rwanda is a model for promoting gender equality in Africa. 

“Rwanda has made remarkable progress both in establishing a peaceful and stable society as well as promoting gender equality in governance and development,” he said.
The Gender Forum is a forerunner to the Eighth African Governance Forum (AGF-VIII) planned to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on the theme: Democracy, Elections and the Management of Diversity in Africa. UNDP has already organized seven AGFs and the last (AGF-VII) was held in Burkina Faso in 2007 focusing on the capable developmental state in Africa.
The Honorable Aloisea Inyumba, Minster of Gender and Family Promotion of Rwanda, during her official opening said that Rwanda is one of the countries with demonstrable political will and commitment towards promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Rwanda adopted a forward looking and all-inclusive approach to rebuilding a post-genocide society by investing in capable democratic institutions.
“Empowering women and ensuring gender equality is something that our leadership has embraced. Women have been brought into the mainstream of our political, economic and social life and our government is determined to do that because we cannot talk about democracy without their involvement in the national governance”, She said.
“Rwanda was chosen as the venue for this event given the country’s remarkable achievement in establishing sustainable peace and stability even during its elections. Equally important, Women make up 56 per cent of Rwanda’s National Assembly and 35% of the Upper House (Senate). Thus, the choice for the venue of this forum is also partly to celebrate Rwanda’s exemplary achievement which other African countries are encouraged to emulate”, said Mr. Gettu.

The Forum will deliberate on challenges facing the African continent in respect of democracy, elections and the management of diversity. It will also provide an opportunity for participants to share experiences and good practices in gender equality and women’s empowerment through the electoral process. The Policy Dialogue will profer concrete policy recommendations for improving gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment in governance based on African experience.

Running for the 8th time in 2012, the African Governance Forum (AGF) is UNDP’s flagship governance programme conceived as a joint initiative with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in close collaboration with the African Union (AU).