Women's empowerment and development : the contribution of parliamentary gender quotas and the case of Rwanda

Abstract

As Parliamentary gender quotas have become increasingly popular, so too has the debate surrounding their effectiveness in enhancing women's representation and gender equality in governments around the world. Women offer unique and important perspectives to the political process, and thus their increased political representation and empowerment can advance the very process of development. In 2003, the Rwandan government Constitutionally enacted a gender quota, requiring at least 30 percent representation of women in all areas of decision-­making, including Parliament. By 2010, Rwandan women MPs surpassed the quota's requirement and represented 57 percent of Parliament. What must be determined is whether Rwanda's gender quota and resulting increased number of women MPs has contributed to an increase in the number and effectiveness of women-­focused laws and policies. I will examine the number of women-­focused laws in Rwanda pre and post quota, consider their implementation mechanisms, and use statistical data and interviews with Rwandan MPs to analyze the implementation and effectiveness of these laws. We will find women-­focused legislation has increased significantly in Rwanda since the quota, but that the quota is just one of several driving forces behind Rwandan women MPs' political empowerment. A willing government, Proportional Representation electoral system, Constitutionally entrenched gender quota, and the results of Rwanda's civil war and genocide will all be determined contributing factors. However, we will find Rwanda's history of a strong pre-­genocide and pre-­quota women's movement has ultimately been the driving force behind women's progress in Parliament, once again enforcing the age-­old adage that authentic development and empowerment must truly emanate from the bottom up.