Talking  Points  for  the  CEO/RGB  at  the  opening  of  

                                                 Gender  Pre  Forum  Consultation  

 

Honorable  Prime  Minister,    

Honorable  Minister  of  Gender  and  Family  Promotion,  

Honorable  Commissioner  for  Political  Affaires  African  Union,  

Excellency   Resident   Coordinator   One   UN   and   UNDP   Regional  Representative,  

Excellencies  Heads  of  Diplomatic  Missions  in  Rwanda,  

Esteemed  invited  guests,  

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  

 

It   is   with   great   pleasure   for   me   and   for   the   whole   entire  Organizing  Committee  to  welcome  you  to  this  Important  Forum,  a  policy   discussion   on   “Silencing   the   guns”   Women   and   in  Democratization  and  Peace  Building  in  Africa.  

Bienvenue  au  Rwanda,  Karibuni  sana  Rwanda  and  feel  at  home.  

This   Gender   Pre   Forum   Consultation   is   the   preparatory   for   the  upcoming   Third   Annual   High   Level   Dialogue   on   Democratic  Developmental  Governance  in  Africa.  

Rwanda  Governance  Board  

Ikigocy’Igihugu  Gishinzwe  Imiyoborere  Office  Rwandais  de  la  Gouvernance  

 

It  has  brought  up  together  nearly  200  leaders  and  experts  across  Africa   and   beyond.   Honorable   Prime   Minister   allow   me   to  mention  a  few………….  

 

Honorable  Prime  Minister,  

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  

 

Main   Objective   of   this   forum   is   to   provide   a   platform   through  which   challenges   facing   women   in   conflict   situations   shall   be  examined  and  policy   recommendations  provided  with   the  aim  of  improving  the  role  of  women  in  eliminating  conflict   in  Africa  and  Strengthening  Democratic  Governance.    

 

Let   me   also   note   that   this   Forum,   is   intended   to   support   the  previous  International  efforts  to  empower  women,  such  as  Beijing  Declaration,   the   Millennium   Declaration,   MDG   three,   and   other  UN  resolutions.  

The  AU  Commission  in  partnership  with  UNDP  Regional  center  for  Africa,  UN  Women,  The  Rwanda  Governance  Board,  The  Rwanda  Ministry   of   Gender   Family   Promotion,   and   The   GIZ   Regional  Governance   Program   Support   to   the   AU,   and   the   Institute   for  Peace   and   Security   Studies   of   the  University   of   Addis   Ababa   are  convening  this  Gender  Pre  Forum.  

On   the   African   Continent   women   represents   50%   of   the  Population  and  therefore  their  role  in  peace  building,  democratic  governance  and  development  in  general  cannot  be  underrated.  

It   is   a   know   fact   that   in   violent   conflict   facing   African   continent  women  and  children  are  the  prime  victims;  and  measures  to  stop  this   kind   of   conflicts   should   come   out   by   the   recommendations  from  this  Forum.  

 

 

Honorable  Prime  Minister,  

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  

 

In   Rwanda  we  have   a   saying     “Umugore  ni   n’umutima  wurugo”  literally  meaning  a  “woman  is  the  heart  of  the  family”,  a  broader  meaning  would  mean  that  our  nation  will  never  function  without  women  and  that  their  role  had  never  been  under  estimated  even  in  our  culture.    

 

Once  again  a  warm  welcome  to  Rwanda,  a  country  with  thousand  hills,  thousand  smiles  and  thousand  innovations.  

 

Murakoze,  Ikaze  mu  Rwanda