Stakeholders call for joint interventions to promote decent work for women and girls

By Elias Hakizimana.

Profemmes Twese Hamwe (PFTH) and other stakeholders have raised the issue of women and girls in the areas of decision-making positions and decent work despite their significant contribution to economic and social development.

The call was made during the National policy dialogue on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in Kigali, following a recent analysis conducted by PFTH in the Southern Province of Rwanda that revealed some barriers to women participation in decision making position and decent work among others.

The National Policy dialogue on women’s participation in decision making positions and productive employment aimed at proposing recommendations to policy makers in enhancing strategies to uplift the meaningful participation of women and girls in decision making process at all levels and their economic empowerment through promoting equal productive employment and decent work.

These barriers range from structural and cultural which is on top of others at (93 %), unpaid care works (91.90%), limited support from husbands and spousal conflict/distrust (72.20%), women economic dependence (70%), less accommodative working environment (69%), limited leadership and lobby skills (63.70%), limited self-confidence (62.10%) and insufficient peer and women organisations’ support (58.50%).

Dr Liberatha GAHONGAYIRE, The Chairperson of Profemmes Twese Hamwe (PFTH) says that the main challenge is that women and girls spend much time dealing with unpaid care work (UCW) compared to men and boys and she requested that a lot have to be done to promote a woman in decision-making positions especially at decentralized levels in Rwanda.

“There is a need for synergy building and collaboration for mindset change among men and boys in regard to women and girls’ economic empowerment, and in education, health and other developmental activities in the country,” Dr. GAHONGAYIRE said.

In addition to the barriers limiting women’s influence and participation in decision making process, findings also revealed the presence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) both at household and at workplace as well as Gender-Based Corruption.

Janviere MUTIRENDE, Champion and Leadership Mentor trained by PFTH in Nyamagabe District says that men still have mindset that they are heads Household and managers of family properties and left all domestic works on women’s shoulders, which result into Gender Based Violence and family conflicts.

“There is a need for adequate mobilization to change the mindset about gender equality principle which is misinterpreted,” she says.

Evidence shows that women’s representation in decision-making positions at the local government level is still below the minimum constitutional requirement of 30 percent of posts in decision-making organs.

Two of many examples, according to the EICV 5, only 16 percent of Director Generals in ministries are women, and in the districts, only 14.8 percent of vice mayors in charge of economic affairs are women versus 85.2 of men.

Angelique Kabeza, Executive Secretary of Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) calls for the increase role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to empower women and girls and mentor them for them to participate in the decision-making positions and decent work.

Some of the recommendations drawn from the findings of the critical analysis report embark on engaging the private sector with aim of implementing the Rwanda labour law to the benefit of women and girls participating in the labour force, engage men and boys and laws and policy enforcement.

Furth more, the employers especially in private sector are urged to ensure equality in employment benefits, including wages, annual leave and social security benefits.

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