Rwanda Women MPs to Host International Summit
By Godwin Agaba

January 8, 2007 (The New Times) Members of the Forum of Rwanda Women Parliamentarians (FFRP) will February 22-23, host an international conference to share experiences with their counterparts from various countries around the world. The disclosure was made January 5 by the Forum president Judith Kanakuze, during a FFRP meeting held at the Novotel Hotel. Kanakuze said the conference will be attended 400 delegates, with half the number MPs from other countries. She added that all African countries had been invited for the conference, whose theme will focus on the role of Parliament in ending gender based violence and poverty.

She further disclosed that the FFRP will soon release a documentary and magazine, depicting the achievements of Rwandan women.Established in 1996, the Forum is a consultative mechanism for facilitating gender integration within the Parliament and is credited for successfully advocating for greater participation of women in leadership, including thirty per cent constitutional allocation at all decision-making levels.

Gender-based capacity building including leadership; commitment to fighting gender-based violence and, fighting the genocide ideology and supporting the Gacaca process, are some of the achievements of the FFRP. Other achievements are: championing family unity, the establishment of a gender-monitoring desk in the Parliament, reviewing the existing laws on women rights and, a gender-based control of government action and budget. Today, Rwanda has the highest number of women parliamentarians in the world with women constituting 48.8% in the Chamber of Deputies and 34.6% in the Senate. The Cabinet also has a 34% representation of women.
The FFRP that started with only 12 members but now has 48 members celebrated its Tenth Anniversary in October last year.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200701081017.html