KNOW MORE ABOUT NATIONAL WOMEN’S COUNCIL
The National Women’s Council (NAWOCO) is a social forum where girls and women pool their ideas in order to solve their own problems and to participate in the development of the country according to the art 187 of Constitution and art 4 of Law n°27/23 of 18/08/2003.
The National Council for Women (established in 1996) boasts of organized structures from the grassroots up to the national level, and provides for women’s participation in local governance at all administrative levels.
At the level of local government, women now comprise a representation of 43%, up from 24% before the 2006 elections. This is largely a result of community sensitization on the rights of women to vote and stand for election.
Missions and objectives:
1. compile views of all Rwandan women without discrimination;
2. Train women to analyze and solve their own problems together;
3. Encourage women to participate in the development of the country
4. Sensitize women on the culture of patriotism and working for the country;
5. Enhance women’s ability to carry out their own activities;
6. Represent women in the governance of the country to enable them participate in Government programs;
7. Encourage women in the fight for equality;
The National Women’s Council is divided into three levels with different tasks.
1.General Assembly( council) is the high level that governs, in charge of decision making for national women’s council.
2. Staff Committee is the level in charge of practicing the decisions taken by general council and connecting other staff member’s achievements.
3. Executive Secretary level is the technical level. it works for national level in charge of daily performance and respecting the decisions from general assembly and staff committee at national level.
Today, National Women’s Council has a new executive secretary KAMANZI Jackline who replaced TUYISENGE Christine, the former executive secretary, on December 24, 2014.
Executive secretary is issued by Prime Minister’s order and other workers are issued according to the laws.
Madam KAMANZI Jackline was issued by Prime Minister’s order that was adopted in minister’s session of December 15, 2014. Madam TUYISENGE Christine, who ended her responsabilities, was issued in 2008.
The national women’s council consists of the women with 18 years old at least and women who are matured by the law.
The National Women’s Council intervenes in four main sectors which are as follows:
Civic Education,
Health and Social Affairs,
Capacity Building and
Women Economic Empowerment.
The Ministry for Gender has established strategic linkages with the national women’s councils, whose base at the grassroots level provides for important linkages between policy and implementation, ensuring that women’s concerns are integrated in national policies and programmes. The councils are an effective strategy for national development and the promotion of gender equality.
by Frederic BYUMVUHORE