Rwanda

Seventeen years ago last Sunday, the Rwandan genocide came to a bloody end. In one of the of the most horrifying 100 days in human history, inter-ethnic tensions stoked by political propaganda escalated into full-scale civil war between two tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis. Over the span of 100 days, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

The latest UN Women report released on Wednesday, in New York, once again positions Rwanda as the country with the highest representation of women in politics and participation in the development of their country.

The latest UN Women report released yesterday in New York, once again, positions Rwanda as the country with the highest representation of women in politics and participation in the development of their country.

The report indicates that where women have attained a critical mass in parliaments, laws and policies to advance women's rights have followed.

The lingering effects of the 1994 Rwandan genocide continue to be felt among the country's children, particularly the one million orphans and vulnerable children living in the country.

While the 100-day killing spree that was the Rwandan genocide has been over for about seventeen years. The consequences of the ethnic violence in the spring of 1994 are still confronting children in Rwanda today.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) will begin conducting special training for female police officers to promote women participation in security and peace-building, both at the national and international levels.

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, announced this yesterday during the first ever RNP Female Officers' Convention held at Petit Stade in Kigali.

UN Women together with the City of Kigali launched a project aimed at promoting the rights of working women and girls.

The project called 'Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls' was launched on Friday at Kimisagara Youth Centre in Nyarugenge District.

A report released by the Gender Monitoring Office, shows that women massively participated in the just concluded local elections.

54.5 percent of the registered voters were women, compared to 45.5 percent men. It also shows that 41 percent of the candidates who ran for elections for district advisory committees were women.

Sixty-five-year-old Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, who has been sentenced to life in prison, has been described as a tyrant and one of the key players in instigating the Rwandan genocide in the south-western border town of Butare.

This once powerful politician came from humble beginnings - she was a social worker and obtained a university law degree at the age of 44.

The Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama has said that violence against women and girls in African countries is an enormous challenge that rests in the hands of regional security organs.

Karugarama said this, yesterday, while opening the 'Africa Regional Security Organs' capacity building workshop on violence against women and girls; prevention, response and peacekeeping,' held in Kigali.

Violence starts in the mind, so we have to start by changing the minds of men and women all over the world." Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy leader in Burma, participated in the conference by video.