BUJUMBURA, December 13th (ABP) – The parity initiative in Burundi by 2030, aimed at accelerating the pace towards parity in elective and decision-making positions at all levels of national life, organized a press conference on Thursday, December 12, 2024 in Bujumbura, to invite media professionals to mobilize and inform Burundian women on the electoral process in order to elect and be elected.
Dr. Christine Mbonyingingo, president of the said initiative, said that the initiative was set up by civil society entities and other entities interested in the management of public affairs. It was to mobilize girls and women so that they can participate in the ongoing electoral process. She asked journalists to help raise awareness of the said process, explaining that in most cases, women are not informed about what is happening. She gave the example of the decree calling voters that was signed on December 7, 2024. As the latter is written in French and also because there are illiterate women who do not visit the internet, they are not informed of the content of the decree.
Mrs. Mbonyingingo did not fail to point out that the initiative is satisfied with the step already taken by the government in parity process. Despite this, she pointed out that much remains to be done because women and girls are not sufficiently represented in positions of responsibility and even in decision-making bodies because parity of 50% women and 50% men in positions of responsibility has not yet been achieved. She gave the example that in the National Assembly, women are represented at 41%, in the Senate at 41%, at the level of district councilors 33%, district administrators 36%, village councilors 19%, village leaders 8%, and councilors of notables 24% to form the general average of 31%.
The same is true at the level of decision-making bodies at the Vice-Presidency of the Republic; women are represented at 43%, at the Prime Minister’s office 17%, at the level of embassies 20%. At the level of the CENI, it is always chaired by a man. At the level of the CEPI that have been set up, in the province of Gitega, women represent only 36%, Buhumuza 33%, Bujumbura 46%, Butanyerera 30% and Burunga 44%. Mrs. Mbonyingingo proposed some strategies to accelerate parity in Burundi. She cited an active political will, explaining that the government of Burundi and its key partners can break records in the sector by 2030. She also spoke of model institutions saying that Burundi can be a model of a champion of parity. Women must consider transforming their challenges into opportunities instead of complaining.
Men are asked to morally and even financially support their wives who want to get elected; Burundian women must support each other and vote for parties that have proposed lists with 50% women and 50% men. Women must also have the courage to initiate political parties.
Thus, the initiative intends to follow the entire election process, build a permanent information stage for women who want to get elected, and regularly send advocacy messages to the relevant authorities for women. The initiative also commits to sponsoring those women who are candidates in the elections and has also promised to monitor the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).