Thousands marched through Kigali yesterday to mark International Women’s Day, as Rwanda showcased its world-leading strides in gender equality. First Lady Jeannette Kagame joined the vibrant walk-and-run event, celebrating the theme #GiveToGain—a call to invest in women’s potential for societal progress. 🏃♀️💪
Rwanda’s parliament boasts over 60% female representation—the highest globally—a milestone activists say has driven transformative policies on inheritance rights, education, and anti-violence measures. "Women here are leading everything—government, businesses, you name it," said rights advocate Rosine Bazongere.
Legal expert Yvonne Cyiza highlighted how women’s leadership has shaped laws reflecting real-life challenges: "When women sit at the decision-making table, policies actually work." Organizations like Haguruka, supporting survivors of gender-based violence for 30+ years, echoed the day’s theme: investing in women = gains for all. 📈
But hurdles remain. Rural economic gaps and gender-based violence persist, reminding advocates that Rwanda’s journey—while groundbreaking—isn’t over. Still, as participant Catherine Agaba put it: "The government gave us the platform. Now we’re owning it." 🌟
