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Rwanda makes history with first majority female parliament
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by Tina Kells | September 18, 2008 at 01:07 pm
440 views | 32 Recommendations | 6 comments
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Rwanda will go down in the history books as the first democratic government in history to be dominated by female representatives. In the second democratic election to be held in that country, women won 44 of the 80 parliamentary seats.
A post-genocide Rwanda enacted very progressive legislation in an attempt to build stability after generations of intense domestic strife between Hutus and Tutsis. That struggle culminated in the 100 day slaughter of more than 800,000 people in 1994. Part of the stability plan included setting minimum quotas for the inclusion of women, the disabled, and youth, in parliament.
The minimum quota for women representatives is 30%; currently women hold 55% of available seats, nearly double that quota. The number of women representatives could increase if any of the seats set aside for the disabled and youth go to female candidates.
Rwanda, whose post-genocide constitution ensures a 30% quota for female MPs, already held the record for the most women in parliament.
The ruling party coalition won 78% of seats in Monday's vote.
Indirect elections for women's quota seats took place on Tuesday and votes for two youth representatives and a disabled quota seat are taking place on Wednesday and Thursday.
In a further progressive move, women in Rwandan politics do not owe allegiance to any party. The logic is that women's issues can get buried in political power struggles; by keeping women independent it is hoped this will be less likely to occur.
Women who stood in seats reserved for female candidates were not allowed to represent a party.
"The problems of women are understood much better, much better by women themselves," voter Anne Kayitesi told the BBC's Focus on Africa.
"You see men, especially in our culture, men used to think that women are there to be in the house, cook food, look after the children... but the real problems of a family are known by a woman and when they do it, they help a country to get much better."
Rwanda had already made history for having the world's highest number of women sitting in parliament, 39 seats, or 49%, after its first democratic elections were held. Now it has broken that record and set a new one.
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Tina Kells
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 15:16 on September 18th, 2008
This could be interesting. I hope it isn't.
It would be better for Rwanda if it was not at all interesting, but everything went smoothly and kept right on improving, with the PM saying - "what did you expect?"
at 18:41 on September 18th, 2008
Nice to read some really good political news.
at 18:54 on September 18th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff. how wonderful! there is hope for peace to flourish.
at 19:02 on September 18th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 19:07 on September 18th, 2008
Thanks Tina for letting us know this interesting news. It is a very positive story coming out of Rwanda which has always been news for genocide and other wrong reasons.
at 21:09 on September 18th, 2008
Tinna kells, It is very nice developement in Rawamda, hope Rawanda will soon return to peace under women leadership.