Rwanda: The Impact of Women Legislators on Policy Outcomes Affecting Children and Families

This paper provides a brief background on changing gender roles in Rwanda and in women's parliamentary representation, and highlights several of the factors that led to the election of women in such large numbers in 2003. Further, it examines the affect of gender on parliamentarians' attitudes, and investigates the impact of women parliamentarians on policies related to children and families, specifically with regard to the development of legislation, oversight of the executive, and influence on the national budget.

The research is based on in depth interviews with male and female parliamentarians, with practitioners working in the field of child welfare, and with representatives of the international community in Rwanda. It also draws on analysis of legislation and policies related to children, content analysis of local newspapers, and participant-observation research by the author, who directs a women's leadership project in Rwanda.