The National Women’s Council (NAWOCO) is a social forum where girls and women pool their ideas in order to solve their own problems and to participate in the development of the country. Cfr art 187 of Constitution and art 4 of Law n°27/23 of 18/08/2003

Missions and objectives

      1. compile views of all Rwandan women without discrimination;
      2. Train women to analyze and solve their own problems together ;
      3. Encourage women to participate in the development of the country
      4. Sensitize women on the culture of patriotism and working for the country ;
      5. Enhance women's ability to carry out their own activities;
      6. Represent women in the governance of the country to enable them participate
          in Government programs ;
      7. Encourage women in the fight for equality;

The National Council for Women (established in 1996) boasts of organized structures from the grassroots up to the national level, and provides for women’s participation in local governance at all administrative levels. At the level of local government, women now comprise a representation of 43%, up from 24% before the 2006 elections. This is largely a result of community sensitization on the rights of women to vote and stand for election.

The Ministry for Gender has established strategic linkages with the national women’s councils, whose base at the grassroots level provides for important linkages between policy and implementation, ensuring that women’s concerns are integrated in national policies and programmes. The councils are an effective strategy for national development and the promotion of gender equality.