Somalia Women Senators Study Visit to Rwanda parliamentarians and Gender Machineries Promote South-South Learning on Promotion of gender equality and women representation.

UN Women Somalia supported a study visit of Women Parliamentary Caucus of the Somalia Senate to the Parliament and Gender Machineries of Rwanda from 29th January to 2nd February 2024.  The study visit was aimed at South-South learning through sharing of experiences on women`s leadership, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations to advance gender equality and enhance the representation of women in parliament and other institutions.

The platform provided an opportunity for the female senators from Somalia’s Senate to share the experience of Somalia and the strategic political direction that they wish to follow to advance Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) at all levels in the country.

Speaking during the study tour, the head of Somalia delegation senator Zamzam Ibrahim Ali said “We requested to visit Rwanda for this study visit because the journey that has resulted in the current political participation of women has been commendable. The dedication of the leadership of Rwanda to advance women`s rights has truly been an inspiration. We have visited many countries, but Rwanda`s approach is unique, and we are eager to replicate it”.

The Key enablers in Rwanda for rapid and steadfast transformation was political will, leadership and consistent ideology, gender responsive policies and legal frameworks, legislation and programs, the alliance between women and men champions and strong national gender machinery and strategic partnership.

As part of the visit, the senators had meetings with a number of key institutions including the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (RWPF), the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the Committee on National Budget and Patrimony, the Rwanda Law Reforms Commission, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and the Rwanda Gender Monitoring Office among others, to exchange knowledge on national policies, legislation, strategies, and programs regarding the promotion of gender and protection on women rights, as well as the legal and institutional frameworks for women's empowerment in Rwanda.

During the visit to the ministry of gender, H.E. Minister Dr. Valentine Uwamariya shared the trajectory of gender equality and advancement of women`s rights in Rwanda, providing key information on gender equality accountability mechanisms, interventions to promote women's participation in politics, and coordination mechanisms to ensure cohesion of all GEWE initiatives.

Discussions also touched on programmatic challenges from the representation of women in private sector, discriminatory social norms, and gender-based violence and key lessons learned from Rwanda`s journey were also shared.

The senators from the Somalia delegation shared the status of gender equality and women`s rights in Somalia, and committed to learn from Rwanda, and to find the most effective approach to tackle persistent inequalities, and discriminatory practices and beliefs.

The delegation also visited the Isange one stop Centre, which provided an opportunity to learn the innovative and strategic approach of coordinated responses and essential services to GBV survivors through the one-stop centers funded by the Government of Rwanda.   

The senators also visited The Kigali Genocide Memorial and received briefings on the conflict and massacre of civilian population during the genocide.  It also offered a learning dedicated to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It offers a powerful experience for visitors, promoting reconciliation and building peace through education.  “Promoting empathy, critical thinking, and personal responsibility, it has enabled people to lay down weapons and give up revenge. Now part of Rwanda’s national school’s curriculum, it has inspired leaders from communities in conflict internationally to partner with us on their own peacebuilding” the memorial official emphasized.

Dr Syed Sadiq, Head of UN Women Somalia appreciated the Government of Rwanda for the cooperation and the Peace Building Fund (PBF) and the Somalia Joint Fund (SJF) for the support in supporting the study visit, which not only provided opportunity for information sharing on the gender machineries and women’s equal participation but also strengthened cooperation among both the Parliaments.