In 2010 MIGEPROF released its vision 2020 policy regarding gender balance. The policy has been revised to address remaining gaps in mainstreaming gender across sectors.
The new policy also proposes mechanisms expected to address the persistent cultural norms and stereotypes hindering the effectiveness of gender equality and equity.
Some of the new policies that are being designed are meant to ensure equal access and control of productive resources and economic opportunities for women and men and accelerate women’s economic empowerment.
The policies insist in strengthening the mechanism for promoting women’s meaningful participation in leadership and decision making positions in public sectors.
Research conducted before the development indicated that active participation and engagement of men and boys in women empowerment and gender equality and equity is still low.
The policy which has shifted from vision 2020 to vision 2050 is meant to improve gender transformation to involve the private sector, institutionalize men and boys as partners and also insist on accountability.
Speaking at the event to announce the approved gender police recently, Silas Ngayaboshya, the Director-General of Gender Promotion and Women Empowerment at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion said that it was a must for the ministry to review and adjust to the ongoing situation after 11 years of constant trend change in the country.
“Although we are achieving a lot, we realized that we still have some loopholes. For instance, we could not see a private sector that fully engaged in gender equality promotion and women’s empowerment,” he said.
Despite efforts expended by Non-Governmental organizations like The Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), Ngayaboshya said, men’s engagement was not institutionalized at a desired extent, hence leading to the revision of the policy.
Ngayaboshya underscored that the new policy is addressing existing realities.
“With the revised policy, we are moving from gender sensitivity to gender transformation. Else, the policy is propelling the private sector in the gender mainstreaming initiative. It is also about accountability in public and private institutions,” he said.
Mireille Batamuliza, the Permanent secretary in MIGEPROF said that the ministry is working with partners to ensure smooth implementation of the policy.
“We want to hold every level accountable and every sector to be engaged in the implementation of the policy,” he said.
She explained that gender equality starts from the household where men’s engagement would be a great pillar to achieving the desired outcome.
Among others, Batamuliza urged all participants to use the policy in ‘making the needed transformation and act as agent of change in their respective working places and communities’.
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