Rwandan womens empowerment

Like many other African societies, the traditional Rwandan culture was centred on patriarchal beliefs and practices that excluded women from participating actively in the socio-economic and political life of the country. Womens public expression was taken as a taboo, and the only channel used by women to convey their questions and opinions on vital societal issues was through male representatives such as their husbands, brothers or sons. During the post-genocide period, womens mobilisation and gender empowerment have been identified as one of the key objectives of the Government of Rwanda, and this has been implemented through a variety of initiatives such as those oriented to economic development, womens rights, education and more participation in decision-making institutions. One important opportunity given to women was the Governments decision to make them eligible to hold the position of Inyangamugayo in the Gacaca courts. This allowed them to be fully engaged in the justice and reconciliation processes, which were among the top priorities of the country considering the history of genocide against Tutsi...