Rwanda celebrates International Women’s Day under the theme – “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation”
On this International Women’s Day, HE Emmanuel Hategeka, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, who also oversees relations with Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar, and Mauritius, spoke to Africa News 24. Rwanda has emerged as a global leader in gender equality and is often cited as a powerful example of post-conflict transformation. As part of this year’s theme in Rwanda— “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation”—Ambassador Hategeka offers insights into how Rwanda’s policies, cultural shifts, and how institutions have propelled women into significant positions across governance, the economy, and society at large.
Q: Your Excellency, thank you for speaking with us on International Women’s Day. Rwanda has garnered worldwide attention for its achievements in gender equality. Could you begin by outlining how these developments took shape after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi?
H.E: I appreciate the opportunity. In the aftermath of the genocide, Rwanda faced near-total collapse: over a million people were killed in just 100 days, institutions were in shambles, and the social fabric had been ripped apart. One consequence was the dramatic shift in demographics—women constituted most of the population. They became community heads, breadwinners, and, ultimately, indispensable partners in rebuilding the nation.
Rwanda’s leadership recognised that the only durable path toward national unity and economic recovery was to make gender equality a central tenet of policymaking. This was not simply a moral imperative; it was also an economic and political necessity. Women stepped into roles in government, business, and civil society, and laws were revised or enacted to uphold equal rights. The result has been what you see today: a country often referenced as a global model for empowering women in the public sphere, economy, and beyond.
Women now comprise 51.5 percent of Rwanda’s population and now represent 57.1 percent of the labour force. Our rallying cry, “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation,” reflects the understanding that when women actively participate in the economy, public service and community life, the country’s overall resilience and growth are enhanced.
Q: Rwanda has attracted global attention for its high representation of women in politics. Could you share the latest figures and why they matter?
H.E: Indeed. Rwanda holds a world record in female political representation, with 63.8 percent of seats in the Chamber of Deputies now occupied by women. This figure reflects our commitment to inclusive governance and the principle that women’s insights are indispensable at all levels of decision-making.
Post-genocide, we recognised that stability and development demanded more than token representation. We enshrined gender equality in the constitution and established policies to ensure that women not only enter politics, but also hold leadership roles across ministries, local councils, and parliamentary committees.
Q: Beyond parliamentary achievements, what specific initiatives have helped women advance in education and the workforce?
H.E: We have made targeted investments in girls’ education, achieving near gender parity in primary and secondary schools. This is further supported by programmes like the Bahige initiative and Girls in ICT, which equip young women with digital and problem-solving skills. We see women stepping up as small-business owners with 51 percent of registered small businesses now owned by women.
Moreover, we emphasise capacity-building through institutions such as the Nyamirambo Women’s Center and the Urugo Women’s Opportunity Center. These provide entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, and market access, giving women the resources to expand their ventures and support their families.
Q: Has there been any measurable impact on maternal health or other social indicators as more women assume leadership roles?
H.E: Absolutely, social outcomes have improved. Women leaders have championed social policies focused on family health, resulting in a 24 percent reduction in maternal mortality over the last decade. By improving healthcare infrastructure, family planning, and prenatal services, we ensure mothers can access the care they need, when they need it. Partnerships under initiatives like HeForShe, and collaborations with UNFPA, also help guarantee that women’s health remains a national priority rather than an afterthought.
Additionally, because 57.1 percent of the labour force is now female, we see broader policy discussions encompassing flexible working conditions, expanded childcare, and other measures designed to help women balance professional and familial responsibilities.
Q: You oversee not just relations with South Africa, but also Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar, and Mauritius. How do you share Rwanda’s best practices regionally?
H.E: I often emphasise that our context is unique, but our experiences are highly adaptable. For instance, the value of women’s cooperatives—like Girubuzima specializing in dairy production , Icyerekezo Cyiza Women’s Cooperative specialising in processing juices and alcoholic beverages from local fruits and others—resonates across borders. We have women in coffee production, craft industries, and cross-border trade forming strong networks to negotiate better deals, access microfinance, and exchange market insights.
Whether addressing women-led enterprises or gender quotas in governance, sharing Rwanda’s experiences often sparks discussions about replicable frameworks suited to local realities.
Q: Some critics may argue that these successes are primarily urban-centric. Have rural women benefited as well?
H.E: Rural inclusion is a core principle. Most of Rwanda’s population lives outside major cities, and therefore, bridging rural-urban divides is critical. Government-led schemes such as Umurenge SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperatives) ensure that even remote communities have pathways to financial services. Many women farmers now have easier access to capital, training for modern farming methods, and cooperative networks that amplify their bargaining power.
Education parity is also increasingly visible in rural settings. Near-universal enrolment in primary schools includes robust efforts to keep girls in school and curb dropout rates. We are not perfect, of course—lack of infrastructure and digital resources can still hamper some communities—but the upward trajectory is encouraging.
Q: While progress sounds robust, what key challenges remain in achieving full gender parity?
H.E: One major challenge is the digital divide. As the economy becomes more technology-driven, we must ensure rural women gain digital literacy and reliable internet access. Another area is addressing deeply rooted cultural norms that can perpetuate gender-based violence or limit women’s pursuits in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Continued investments in infrastructure, teacher training, and public awareness campaigns are needed to transform mindsets over the long term. And we must remain diligent in monitoring our policies with accurate data—knowing exactly where progress stalls can help us intervene effectively.
Q: For other nations, particularly those recovering from conflict or seeking to boost their economies through gender equality, what would you highlight from Rwanda’s experience?
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H.E: Three come to mind. First, legislation must clearly define and protect women’s rights, from inheritance to political representation, and be followed up with decisive enforcement.
Second, ensure women have practical pathways to leadership through education, mentorship, and fair access to capital.
Third, I would emphasise that data is your ally. If you don’t track progress—such as school enrolments, parliamentary representation, or business ownership—you risk complacency and regress. Regularly reviewing metrics keeps accountability in check and helps identify where interventions need to be fine-tuned. Finally, do not underestimate the power of cultural campaigns.
Rwanda’s approach combined top-down legal reforms with grassroots advocacy, shaping public consciousness around the notion that women’s empowerment accelerates the entire nation’s progress.
Q: Any final message for International Women’s Day, in line with Rwanda’s theme “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation”?
H.E: This day celebrates more than achievements; it underscores the resilience of women everywhere. Rwanda’s case demonstrates that even in the face of unimaginable tragedy, a strong commitment to women’s rights can spark a profound national transformation. When you elevate women—who are 51.5 percent of the population and more than half of the labour force—you accelerate economic growth, foster social cohesion, and reinforce peace. In short, you strengthen the nation itself.
The journey continues, and we remain determined to tackle emerging challenges, from the digital gap to rural healthcare. But if there is one universal takeaway, it is that no country can reach its full potential without harnessing the talent, energy, and leadership of its women.
