Women Target Peace, Security

April 29, 2005 - (The New Times - Kigali) Members of Women Arise Network have concluded a one-week conference at Zion Temple Church to review regional peace and security.

The conference was attended by the Executive Secretary of the Beijing Follow up Executive Permanent Secretariat in Rwanda, Aquiline Niwemfura, who discussed the twelve resolutions of the Beijing Conference and violence against women.

"After realizing how war affects women and children, this net work was formed to find ways to protect women and struggle for their rights," she said during an exclusive interview.

"We are trying to teach women issues like human rights, good governance and humanitarian support because peace and security cannot be achieved in the absence of these," Niwemfura added.

Women Arise Network is trying to translate the inheritance law into Kinyarwanda so that it can be read and understood by every Rwandan woman especially in rural areas, according to reports.

The association also intends to improve on women literacy by collaborating with the Ministry of Gender and Women Promotion to encourage females to join adult schools.

The conference was attended by other participants from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who hailed Rwanda for the steps taken to improve on gender equality and representation in major decision making positions.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200504290032.html