AU dialogue calls for stronger gender sensitive laws 

From left:Prof Anastase Shyaka,CEO of Rwanda governance board, speaker of Rwandan parliament Donatilla Mukabalisa and foreign Affairs minister Louis Mushikiwabo, having a heart-to-heart during the fourth high level dialogue on Democracy  Human Rights and Governance in Africa, in Kigali.

The 4th high’s level dialogue on democracy, human rights and governance in Africa that closed on Tuesday in Kigali called for stronger gender sensitive laws to enable women partake politics.

The call comes as part of the recommendations from the two day Dialogue that closed on Tuesday in Kigali is seen as one of the ways to help women participate in political party activities.

The speaker of Rwanda’s Parliament, Chamber of Deputies Hon. Donatilla Mukabalisa noted Parliaments across the continent need to foster the enactment of gender sensitive laws that would encourage full participation of women.

“The agenda for advancement of women participation in leadership is a partnership agenda because it contributes greatly to development of our countries,” she said while closing the dialogue.

To achieve this noted that there is need for full participation of men in promoting gender equality in leadership positions.

“We need our husbands, brothers and sons to be at the forefront of promoting gender equality,” she said in her closing remarks during the Dialogue.

Experts believe that political parties provide the basis to which women can join and participate in the political process of their countries, thus breaking the barriers.

There has to be a mechanisms in form of a party law, which then provides them for the inclusion of women in party structures,” said Dr. Aisha L Abdullah, commissioner for political affairs at the African Union.

During the Dialogue, it was noted also that most women participating in politics are currently in decorative or soft positions mainly in political parties which cannot enable their full participation.

Delegates who were also from over 40 countries on the African continent recommended that women requires capacity building to enable them be able to meet with men in key positions in the political Arena.