Post-genocide gender equality : Understanding the gender equality process within the political sphere after the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi

Sammanfattning: Inspire by article 1 of the Human Rights Declaration, which states that every human is born free and equal, this thesis highlights gender equality and the process towards political empowerment, using the example of Rwanda. A country known for being one of the world’s leading countries regarding women’s representation in the parliament. The purpose of the thesis is to explore Rwanda's gender equality process within the political sphere using feminist approaches. Results have been produced through a literature study and some elements of empirical material from interviews with people from Rwanda to give them a voice on the matter. The results of this thesis illustrate two main factors behind the increase of gender equality and women's political participation; (1) the effect that the genocide against the Tutsi had on the country, and (2) the regime’s commitment to gender equality. Our results also illustrate that there are differences concerning political opportunity and participation between urban and rural parts of Rwanda. Concluding that, even though women have the opportunity to participate in politics and are politically empowered, there are still issues regarding gender equality in the political sphere.