Origin and Objective of Rural Women Parliament

The Rural Women Parliament is an initiative of the National Council Women Caucus (NCWC); and its formation was largely inspired by the resolution of the 2011 UN Commission of the Status of Women’s (CSW) which called for the involvement of grassroots women in social programmes with the aim of empowering them to become leaders in their communities. The Commission made a commitment to persuade leaders of Governments and Parliaments to involve grassroots women in social programmes by organizing forums where they can be empowered to become leaders in their communities.

Members of the National Council Women Caucus who attended the Meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women that was held in New York took great interest in the Commission’s theme that called for the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.

Hence, upon their return NCWC decided to launch the Rural Women Parliament; which held its first Session in September 2012. The purpose of the Rural Women Parliament is to create a forum which offers opportunities for grassroots women and men to access information on socio-economic and political developments within the country; and to exchange experiences on how to deal with the challenges in their communities and at personal level.