Starting from 10-18 June Rwanda will host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference; the event will also see the country’s inauguration into the association. The event follows Rwanda’s approval into commonwealth nearly three years ago.
The conference will attract 300 participants from the association’s 18 countries; other participants will come from East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) Southern African Development Community (SADC) and International Conference of the Great Lake Region (ICGLR).
Among the main issues to be discussed include how to introduce genetically modified crops in Africa as a way of ensuring food security, the next agenda will focus on how to improve sustainable livelihood through poverty alleviation measures.
In addition, the conference will address issues related to gender equality especially in land matters where some cultural practices have denied women the right to own property; democracy will also be at the core of the talks since it facilitates good governance and fair elections.
Vincent Biruta, the Rwanda’s senate president, noted that the conference was timely given the country’s development progress. In this light, Biruta was optimistic that some participants might show interest towards Rwanda’s investment opportunities.
Biruta further highlighted that the conference will be a success despite the fact that out of 18 African countries invited only three won’t attend, the absentees include Seychelles, Mauritius and Sierra Leone which has not yet confirmed their attendance.
Rwanda’s parliamentarians in CPA total 95. These include 79 members of parliament and 16 Senators. The association’s objectives include; promotion of democracy and good governance, human rights and promotion of justice in Africa among others.
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