Rise of the Rwandan Women

Rwanda held its parliamentary elections this week which resulted in huge victories for women, who now hold 56.25 of the parliamentary seats. They have broken the ‘world record’ as it is, of women representatives in a national legislative body. 

There are a number of factors behind this trend, which has been increasing steadily for a number of years. In 2003 the UN called for women to represent 30% of the representatives in their national legislatures or parliaments, and Rwanda responded by protecting this measure in their constitution. But those changes only required the seating of only 24 female representatives total, after this election, 44 will be seated. 

Additionally the Rwandan government has embarked on a massive campaign to increase literacy and transform their economy into one based on knowledge and information. The result has been an increase in female literacy rates, up to 50% from 10% 15 years ago.