Challenges of Women Political Representation in Rwanda National Parliament

ABSTRACT African women’s fundamental contributions in their households, food production systems and national economies are increasingly acknowledged, within Africa and by the international community. This is due, in no small part, to African women’s own energetic efforts to organize, articulate their concerns and make their voices heard. The study entitled challenges of women political representation in Rwanda national parliament employed the following objectives; to evaluate the level of women political representation in parliament, examining the effectiveness of women political representation in parliament, and identifying the factors that affect women political representation in parliament. Descriptive ex post-facto method was employed. It involved both qualitative and quantitative data collection. During data analysis, the researcher used tabulation, charts and Chi-square. Relating to evaluating the level of women political representation in parliament, the findings show that the inequality still exists between the number of women and men in parliament. The study concluded that women are exemplary on the work because they contribute more on the government policy achievement even if they are still affected by socio-cultural, political, education, previous experiment, relevant knowledge, marital status and economic factors. It is recommended that, the government of Rwanda should increase the increase the free seats of women ( at least 4O% of seats) because until now the percentage of women are still low than the one for men. MIGEWD, should ask the government to set new constitution which are more favorite to women. Rwandan women parliamentary should do the proper gender advocacy in all politics level as is the one of their mission in order to increase the number of women in all levels.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter page

DECLARATION A

DECLARATION B

APPROVAL SHEET

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v

LIST OF FIGURE ix

LIST OFTABLES x

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS xi

ABSTRACT xii

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 2

Purpose of the study 3

Research Objectives 3

Research Questions 3

Scope 4

Significance of Study 4

Operational Definitions of Key Terms 5

Two REVIEW

Introduction

OF RELATED LITERATURE ~

6

Concepts, Ideas, Opinions from Authors/Experts 6

Theoretical Perspectives 7

Conceptual Framework 8

The level of women political representation 12

The effectiveness of women political

representation in Rwanda 14

The Role of Women in Reconstruction and Peace

building 15

vi

Promoting Girls’ Education~17

Health Services, Trauma Counseling, and

HIV/AIDS Awareness 18

Resolving Conflict, Empowering Women, and

Fostering Peace

Women in Politics and their Policy Impact on

Gender Equality 19

Quota systems 19

The factors affecting women political

participation in central government 21

Political Factors 21

Lack of Social Capital and Political Capacities 23

Dependence on International Donor Support 23

Three

Research

~4E1i1ODOLOGY

Design

~

24

Research Population 24

Sample size and sampling procedures 24

Research Instrument 25

Validity of the Instruments 26

Reliability of research instruments 26

Ethical Considerations 27

Limitations of the Study 27

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATL28

Women increment in the central government 30

The selection of women in central government 31

The opinions of respondents on the importance of having women in

central government 33

Motives of becoming women politicians 34

The higher number of women in central government or in political

position 35

vii

The contributions of women in the development of the country .........36

The reasons that limit women in central government ...~....41

Women/men responsibilities and the effects on their representation

in parliament 43

The key measures that may enhance women competition for political

opportunities in parliament 44

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ~m45

Introduction 45

Findings 45

The level of women political representation in

parliament of Rwanda 45

The effectiveness of women political

representation in central government 47

The factors affecting women political

representation in central government 49

The reasons that limit women in central

government 50

Conclusions 53

Recommendations 54

References ss

Appendices 59

Appendix ltransmittal letter 59

Appendix 2 Questionnaires 60

Appendix 3 Culliculum Vitae 66