Kigali, 9 July 2016
President Kagame today was awarded the Gender Champion Award alongside Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, by the African Women Movement.
In his acceptance speech, President Kagame said the Award would motivate him to work even harder, striving for gender equality and women rights.
“Being a champion of gender is the same as being the champion for justice and human rights. When women are able to enjoy their rights everyone benefits. Its logic and common sense. Women are as talented and ask skilled as men. In the case of Rwanda, they are even more than men in numbers. When you sideline them, you lose something big.”
President Kagame congratulated Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the Award which he said she deserves.
“The AU chairperson is not just a leader, a woman; she is also a good person who does everything right. She is a complete leader formed by the struggle for equality in South Africa. I thank the African women movement for promoting gender equality and gender empowerment and encouraging everyone to do what is right to ensure women take their rightful place in global matters.”
Accepting the award, the AU Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma thanked President Kagame for being an inspiration to all Africans and the First Lady Jeanette Kagame for being beside him.
“We thank you for creating Rwanda which is a place for women as well as everyone. President Kagame is not only the President of Rwanda but also the global leader for gender. ”
She dedicated the Award to all women of Africa.