Women and persons with disabilities welcome greater voice in elections and decision-making

By The Inspirer.

Women and persons with disabilities in Rwanda say they were previously marginalised and excluded from decision-making, but are welcoming progress in giving them a voice and representation in leadership through elections.

They made the remarks on Saturday, October 31, 2026, while participating in grassroots elections at the cell level, where various representatives were elected, including executive committees of the National Women’s Council and the National Council of Persons with Disabilities. It was also the first time persons with disabilities elected their representatives through direct voting.

Efforts to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in national governance date back to the 2003 Constitution, which provided for one representative of persons with disabilities among the 80 members of Parliament.

During the parliamentary elections held between September 29 and October 2, 2003, the representative was selected by an electoral committee comprising representatives of special interest groups, commonly known as mini-committees.

The system has evolved through subsequent legal reforms. Under the current Constitution, the representative of persons with disabilities in Parliament is elected by the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Another significant milestone was the introduction of the constitutional principle that women should occupy at least 30% of positions in decision-making bodies.

The 2003 Constitution also reserved 24 of the 80 parliamentary seats for women, who were elected through special electoral colleges in accordance with the country’s administrative structure.

In 2007, laws governing political organisations and politicians were also revised to require political parties to ensure that women make up at least 30% of their candidates on electoral lists.

Women and persons with disabilities in Bugesera District say these measures have helped reduce their marginalisation, allowing them to express their views and participate in choosing their leaders.

Dusabimana Cécile, a woman with a physical disability living at a centre run by the Hospitaller Sisters of Saint Martha in Nyamata Sector, told Imvaho Nshya that persons with disabilities previously faced exclusion within their own families and were often denied opportunities to participate in community activities.

She said she was encouraged by the progress made in ensuring that they are heard and included in governance.

“In the past, persons with disabilities were often confined to their homes, with little opportunity to go out, and sometimes even their own family members neglected them.

“Today, you can go anywhere to seek a service and receive the same treatment as everyone else. We are also represented in decision-making bodies,” she said.

She urged parents of children with disabilities to stop isolating them and instead provide them with proper care and equal opportunities to participate in different activities, just like other children.

Nirere Claudette, another woman with a physical disability from Nyamata Sector, also welcomed the changes.

“I appreciate this because many people previously could not go out due to discrimination related to their disabilities. The fact that we are now considered, can come to polling stations and elect our representatives makes me happy because we have been given value,” she said.

Women welcome greater recognition of their voices

Women also say their views were historically given less consideration than those of men, but that their participation in decision-making has significantly improved.

Izabikora Francine, from Kanzenze Cell in Ntarama Sector, said women now play an important role in finding solutions to community challenges, unlike in the past when men largely dominated decision-making.

“In the past, women had no say, and even during elections, people did not have confidence in them. Today, we appreciate that women are represented in different leadership structures and professional positions,” she said.

Uwimana Mariya, from Nyamata Cell in Nyamata Sector, said women previously faced abuse and had limited opportunities to speak out or seek help when confronted with challenges.

“A woman could be mistreated without having a platform to speak or anyone to turn to with her problems. Men largely dominated discussions and decision-making. Having structures specifically representing women is helpful because they support us in addressing the challenges we face and finding solutions,” she said.

Statistics show that women won 39 of the 80 parliamentary seats in the 2003 elections, representing 48.75%.

Their representation increased to 51 seats out of 80 in the 2024 parliamentary elections, equivalent to 63.8%. Of these, 25 women were elected through direct elections, while 26 secured seats through special electoral arrangements.