By Roy Lie A Tjam.
Officiated by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the Netherlands, International Women’s day 2015 was celebrate at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel in The Hague on Saturday march 20 2015. There has been remarkable progress in Rwanda since Beijing in 1995, including in areas such as Women in Power and Decision Making, Women and the Economy, Education and Training for Women, all programs part of Rwandan government national policy.
For a full photo-album of the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651129649230/
Rwanda has ensured gender equity in all governance policies, including budget allocation as well as ensuring gender sensitive provisions in national constitution. Rwanda has the highest representation of women in the Parliament – 64 per cent, compared to the average of 21 per cent for the rest of the world, Women occupy 40 per cent of Cabinet posts in Rwanda.
A breakdown of the program: Performance by Fumiko Marie from the Royal Conservatorium, music. Speech by the President of Rwandan Women Association (Ishema), Ms. Christella Mukashema. Performance by Ms. Joss Umuganwa and Gareth Evans -Jones. Speech by Dr Barbara Couwenbergh, President of the International Women Contact. Dance by the Rwandan Women Association (Ishema). Speech by Ambassador of Nigeria and Dean of African Ambassadors H. E. Dr. Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi.
Performance by Ryuko Reid from the Royal Conservatorium, music. Remarks by Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga. In her address H.E. Dr. Akambi, quoted a Chinese adage; ‘women can hold up half the sky’. Yes, women are the backbone of society. Women deserve our respect, we should cherish them. The evening concluded with an informal networking.
