Content for Mains Enrichment
Source: IE
Context: Rwanda has a high representation of women in its Parliament, with around 61 per cent of Lower House seats occupied by women.
Why does Rwanda have so many women parliamentarians?
This is due to historical factors, including the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which left a majority of the population composed of women. To address this, Rwanda implemented gender equality initiatives, including a 30 per cent quota for women in decision-making organs, such as Parliament.
While this has led to progress in political representation and laws on issues like education and gender-based violence, challenges remain, including access to education and traditional gender roles.
Additional Information:
Percentage of women in the Lower house of major democracies:
| Country | Percentage |
| India | 78 elected women MPs out of a total of 543 seats, representing 14.36% of the total number of MPs. |
| USA | About 28% |
| United Kingdom | About 34% |
| South Africa | About 46% |
| South Korea | About 19% |
| Japan | About 10% |
| Germany | About 35% |
| France | About 37% |
| Canada | About 30% |
| Brazil | About 17% |
| Australia | About 38% |
Usage: The example can be used in Questions related to women/Sociology/ Polity
About Rwanda:
Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
