Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolee Uwimana, has urged girls to believe in their abilities, set goals and remain determined to achieve their ambitions despite discouragement from others.
She made the call on October 9, 2026, during celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl Child in Nyamata, Bugesera District.
The event was held under the theme “A capable girl, a brighter future” and was preceded by the planting of fruit trees at GS Nyamata Catholique to help improve children’s nutrition.
Uwimana praised girls for making progress in various fields, including agriculture, technology, business, sports, mining and vocational trades that have traditionally been dominated by men. She said their achievements showed what girls could accomplish when given opportunities.
“Girls, study hard, believe in yourselves, set goals and work towards achieving them. Avoid temptations and people who discourage you,” she said.
However, she noted that girls still face challenges, including sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy and outdated attitudes that limit their opportunities.
She called on everyone to protect girls, support them and give them opportunities to develop their potential.
Uwimana also urged boys to support and respect their sisters and help them avoid behaviours that could stand in the way of their dreams.
She called on parents to show their children love, listen to them, offer guidance and correct them when necessary. Parents were also encouraged to support their children’s education and ambitions while instilling values such as respect, self-respect, hard work, patriotism and respect for Rwandan cultural values.
Although the gender gap has been narrowing, more work is needed to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women, particularly in employment.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show that in May 2026, the unemployment rate among women stood at 15.5 per cent, compared with 11.6 per cent among men — a gap of 3.9 percentage points.
NISR data also show that young people aged between 16 and 30 face an unemployment rate of 15.7 per cent.
