Rwanda ‘ s Liberation significantly improve the condition of women in society . It was assumed that high-ranking decisionmaking institutions with such a level of representation for women would deal more effectively with challenges that disproportionately affect womenfolk . Not only were such institutions expected to prioritize the concerns of women , but they were also expected to be emotionally empathetic and intellectually informed about historical predicaments and cultural limitations that resisted – and still resist – meaningful change and essential freedoms for women .
Consequently , a high percentage of women representation was not an end in itself . It was a means to an end ; a tool whose effectiveness could be measured against impactful change on the condition of ordinary women in Rwandan society . Otherwise , the concept of “ representation ” loses its entire meaning . Rather than seeking change in the conditions of those who represent , the concept of representation should seek change in the lives of those who are represented .
For instance , it is saddening when one looks at the numbers of victims of gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies provided by different institutions . In 2016 , about 17000 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded , according to Imbuto Foundation . Data ( 2014-15 ) from the National Institute of Statistics ( NISR ) shows that for one in five 19-year-old girls has given birth or is pregnant .
What is more , gender-based violence cases alone increased from 4124 to 5013 two years ago in
2018 , according to Rwanda ’ s justice minister , Johnson Busingye . The numbers are likely higher today . These numbers seem to suggest that a pandemic is underway . Worse , it seems there ’ s no cure any time soon . The laws are not effective in deterring the violence . Which begs the question : If the laws and policies put in place to curb gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies are not as effective as they seemed when they were promulgated , then it is only logical to conclude that those who fronted them didn ’ t carry with them the adequate emotional empathy of the victims in particular and the conditions of women in patriarchal societies in general . Who would know more about these than the representatives of women ? Besides , if there was any oversight at the front end of the legislative process and decision making , how did the concept of representation come to bear in checking for the effectiveness at the back end ? Or was it a matter of appearances that “ something is being done ”?
A good place to start would be meeting with women in our local communities , hearing their concerns , and from there finding a cure from these views . However , this cannot happen from the legislative offices in Kigali . Effective representation must return to the grassroots if it isn ’ t only meant for window-dressing .
President Kagame recently underscored that the country is facing two pandemics : corruption and coronavirus . From the perspective of women , the most detrimental corruption we are facing includes sexual harassment . It is making the workplace a toxic environment and a site of violence , physical and emotional . Gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies constitute another form of corruption in society . Moreover , representation that isn ’ t attuned to the priorities of the represented is corrupt . For this reason , the demand to end corruption includes calling out women representatives in parliament and other areas of leadership to bring the perspectives of women on the high table – to “ represent .” Valid as the argument is that the issue of women should concern men is , this argument assumes that the agency of the most affected – in this case women ’ s agency – has no value and undercuts the very essence of representation . Indeed , it ’ s an argument for the removal of the quota system .
Rather than integrate themselves into the patriarchal logic of our society that is toxic to women emancipation , they ought to bring a new paradigm for a society where women and girls would feel safe and protected from any form of genderbased violence . Women in Rwanda have a valuable ally in President Kagame . It seems the president is ready to support women , only if they are ready to fight for their liberation .
“ If oppressed women should wage a war , I would readily smuggle ammunition to them for it would be a justified war ” Kagame said in his biography that was written by the French journalist Francois Soudan . If Kagame isn ’ t smuggling ammunition , then it means women in leadership , parliament and elsewhere , are not waging war for this just cause of women liberation ._
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