United Nations Commission on The Status of Women

Apr 5, 2008

Claudette Kigeme, Provincial Mothers’ Union Coordinator, attended the annual session of the UNCSW in New York, the focus of which was on financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

In addition she had opportunity to share with others who were part of the Anglican delegation about the situation in Burundi regarding gender financing.

She also addressed a side event organised by the Mothers’ Union on ways in which the MU in Burundi through the literacy and development programme mobilises community education towards gender equality.

“We aim”, she said, “to empower the most marginalised people in the community, the majority of them being women.”

Quoting Mary Sumner’s words “The education of a child starts 25 years before he or she is born”, Claudette said, “We have the power to change the world. It is the first step of community education that counts. Let us use our power to shape the future generation and bring in gender equality.”

Following the UNCSW she participated, along with Mathilde Nkwirikiye the Archbishop’s wife, at the Women Leaders Capacity Building Workshop held in Nairobi. It was organised by The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) as part of its HIV/AIDS TB and Malaria Programme.