Source: allAfrica.com
Delegates from nearly 30 African countries are set to convene a preliminary meeting of the Eighth African Governance Forum (AGF-VIII) multi-stakeholder Policy Dialogue on "Gender Equality, Elections and democracy" on Novermber 1, 2011.

The two-day forum will attract participants from government and civil society organisations. It is jointly hosted by the Government of Rwanda, African Union Commission, and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).

According to a statement, the policy dialogue will explore the interface between democracy, elections and diversity management with imperatives for gender equality on the continent.

African countries have since the early 1990s made commendable progress in nurturing and consolidating democratic governance. However, gender equality and women empowerment still remains a major challenge.

In an interview with Alfred Karekezi, the Director General in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Rwanda was chosen as the host because of the country's remarkable achievement in establishing sustainable peace and stability.

Prof. Pierre Rwanyindo Ruzirabwoba, the Director General of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), welcomed the meeting observing that such gatherings are held periodically to discuss the way forward especially on democracy.

He added that for democracy to prevail there was need to ascertain all the issues affecting the continent and to avoid overdependence on the West.

Women make up more than half Rwanda's parliament.

 

• Rwanda