Rwanda's First Lady, Female Pan-African MPs seek to integrate anti-corruption values in school curricula

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Women Caucus has resolved that African countries should introduce anti-corruption curricula in schools if the continent is to effectively inculcate strong values in citizens to shun graft tendencies.

This was among the seven resolutions adopted by the continental legislative organ, named the Kigali Declaration, at the closure of a two-day session.

The 11th PAP Conference on Women’s Rights, held at the Parliamentary Building in Kimihurura, was opened by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame, on Wednesday.

According to H.E Mrs Kagame, “several studies suggest that women are less corrupt and that companies with a higher number of women in decision-making perform better in terms of resource management, and maintaining zero-tolerance level for corruption”.

She added that; “the priority must be to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks and mechanisms that reinforce accountability and ensure that principles of equity and equality are consistently addressed in all areas of our public and private spheres.”

Mrs Kagame challenged the continental legislators to demonstrate urgency and move to help uproot the vice through building sound policies and systems that are grounded in a culture of integrity.

In response to the First Lady’s challenge, the legislators also called upon governments to implement, without delay, appropriate means to fight corruption.

They also noted that governments have to “repeal all national laws which promote illicit financial flows, especially in the mining and other sectors dealing with exports and imports, to check capital flight.”

Hon. Roger Nkodo DANG, President of the Pan-African Parliament, spoke of women’s vulnerability to specific types of corruption due to their social, political and economic roles adding that there was need for establishment of prudent mechanisms that involve women in uprooting corruption from African societies.

“This conference seeks to draw the attention of women legislators to the existing gaps between policy frameworks, gender policies, anti-corruption strategies and actions,” said Hon. DANG.

Jamila Ksiksi Debbech, the Chairperson of the PAP Women Caucus, welcomed the participation of the First Lady of Rwanda, who was recently awarded the African Women of Excellence Awards (AWEA) for her outstanding work on empowering women and her overall contribution to Africa's development.

“She is a proven champion for women empowerment and the emancipation of Africa. Her contribution will be significant in advancing women’s agenda at this year’s conference; particularly in consolidation of gains and achievements from women.”

Debbech urged the continental parliamentarians to stand against corruption because it jeopardises the continent’s transformation and then called upon all parliaments in Africa to adopt appropriate legislative measures to fight corruption.

Citing the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, the PAP women meeting also called for gender mainstreaming in positions of leadership, with a view that more women in leadership translates into limited corruption.

The Pan-African Parliament has been holding its Conference on Women’s Rights since 2008.

The event has become an efficient platform to promote gender-balance, review and debate women’s issues in Africa and ensure efficient monitoring of gender policies on the continent.

In line with the African Union theme for 2018; “Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable path to Africa’s transformation,” the annual Conference on Women’s Rights focuses on the role of parliamentarians in combating corruption through legislation enforcement; particularly those dealing with the effect of corruption on women and Development in Africa