HDNet's 'Dan Rather Reports' Investigates How Women are Helping to Rebuild Rwanda

HDNet's 'Dan Rather Reports' Investigates How Women are Helping to Rebuild Rwanda

After the horrific genocide, Rwanda is now the only country in the world with a majority female parliament

DALLAS, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow night on HDNet's "Dan Rather Reports," the program presents a look at how the tiny East African nation of Rwanda is trying a novel idea to recover from the horrific genocide that tore the country apart sixteen years ago. It took place when simmering resentments between two tribes exploded in 100 days of violence, leaving an estimated 800,000 dead - most of them killed by their neighbors.

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Since then, Rwanda has largely disappeared from the international spotlight. But for the people who were left alive, the daunting task of trying to recover has been a wrenching work in progress. And the Rwandan government has made a bet that is unusual for Africa, and in many ways for the rest of the world. The country's future is being largely rested on the empowerment of women.

In fact, Rwanda has achieved something remarkable - it is the only country in the world with a majority female parliament. 56% of the lower chamber of Parliament is female - compare that to the US where only 17% of the seats in Congress are held by women.

A clip of the program can be seen at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsBoFCP6JUM

Deputy Henriette Sebera, a member of Rwanda's Parliament told Dan Rather Reports that women were the biggest victims of the war. And she says convincing her male counterparts that women's rights were important for everyone has not been easy.

"We showed them that when you educate a woman, at least, you educate a family. You educate the whole country. But when you educate a man, you just educate an individual," she says.

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Source: HDNet

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