There is need to ensure that women have the tools to overcome the barriers they face,’ First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame told participants at Global Gender Summit in Kigali on Monday.
She said the first ladies of the continent have observed that many women and girls still face barriers to basic rights, particularly access to labour market opportunities.
Rwanda’s first lady recalled the role women played following the 1994 Genocide where women in many cases were the ones catering for families.
She described the Summit as an important platform to highlight issues of women equality.
Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta called for removal of institutional barriers to accelerate women’s economic empowerment.
She added that it has become urgent for Africa to translate its demographic dividend into viable potential.
The Kenyan first lady said investments in gender equality are critical to realize demographic dividend.
The first ladies were talking during the Global Gender Summit in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday which brought together first ladies, ministers and development experts.