Judith Kanakuze

Judith Kanakuze (September 19, 1959 – February 7, 2010) was a Rwandan politician and women's rights activist best known for passing legislation against gender-based violence, including Rwanda's first legal definition of rape, and contributing constitutional gender quotas that required women's representation in governmental bodies. She worked in multiple fields, including nutrition and civil service, before becoming a prominent leader of women after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which she lost most of her extended family. Kanakuze founded the early women's organization Réseau des Femmes and represented women's interests at the Arusha Accords and on Rwanda's committee to establish a constitution. The gender quotas that required women to compose at least 30 percent of governmental bodies subsequently quickly spurred women's participation to exceed the quotas in parliament. She was elected to Parliament in 2003 and reelected in 2008. During her terms, she presided over the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum

Quotes

• God saved me.
  • "He did not save them, Judith Said (KT Press, December 2022)
• We are transforming our society, and women are part of the solution.
  • Rwanda's parliamentary election saw women win 45 of the 80 seats. (KT Press, December 2022)