The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

jority – an “ethnic” majority which they held to be a political majority. The
majority of women in Rwanda were victims of the conflict. Even if some
among them also killed, they lost their loved ones – their husbands and
their children – and they were taken as sexual hostage by the murderers.
The role of women in reconciliation and peace building in Rwanda:
Genocide, post-genocide and the Third Republic
After the genocide, Rwanda had over 600,000 orphans. It is the women
who cared for them. Sometimes these women also had their own children
to support.
Once women had the opportunity, they entered politics. Currently in
Rwanda, women make up more than half of the members of parliament,
and a woman is President of the Parliament. Women are ministers and
judges; they are at all levels of power, even in the diplomatic representation
and the presidency.
When Rwanda established the National Commission for Reconciliation,
the Committee was headed by a woman. When popular Gacaca courts
were created, the majority of judges of integrity appointed were women.
These are women who fought for the rights of women and children. They
have a number of political associations, and all these associations are in
an umbrella group which does excellent work – ultimately, for Rwanda.
Thanks to women, there is now collaboration between the police and
the women’s associations in Rwanda against violence against women
in couples and households. For that, a green phone has been created
for women assaulted in marriage, to call the police for help.
Rwanda would not be able to rise up again without the efforts of women.
The effort of women
In 1990, women got together and established several women’s associations
to fight against the problems women faced in everyday life. Of
these associations was Duterimbere (Moving Forward Together), the
goal of which was the economic empowerment of women. Another,
created at the same time, was Haguruka (stand up!), which had the goal
of defending the rights of women and children; it operated only in the
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