AFP
Rwandan president wins African gender prize

Wed Dec 12, 2:04 PM ET

DAKAR (AFP) - Rwandan President Paul Kagame was handed this year's Africa Gender Award Wednesday for promoting gender equality in his country, which has the world's highest female representation in parliament.

Bestowing the prize to Kagame in Dakar, Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade hailed the Rwandan leader as "the standard bearer for the cause of African women."

With some 48 percent of its lawmakers female, Rwanda's National Assembly boasts the world's highest ratio of women in parliament. Women also account for 30 percent of Rwandan senators and government members.

"Prohibiting half of the population from economic, social or political activities would be short-sighted," Kagame said, after picking up his award.

"Rwanda doesn't do it for women," he added, "but for itself."

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