Source: New Times
Women working in the public sector represent 45.5 per cent, latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (NISR) indicate.

Compiled from a study carried out from 2010 to 2011, the figures indicate that 54.5% of civil servants are men while 45.5% are women, which shows that the sector is complying with the government's commitment to promote women's participation in decision making.

The figures were unveiled, Tuesday, at the launch of the Gender Statistical Framework.

According to the report, significant women representation in the highest decision making organs is visible in Chamber of Deputies (56%), Permanent Secretaries (50%), Supreme Court judges (43%) and judges at Commercial High Courts also at 43 per cent women.

The lowest score was at women ambassadors who constitute 23.8%, while full ministers are 28.6 percent but the ministerial gap is covered by the number of state ministers, who are at 33.3 per cent.

Constitutionally, women representation at all levels should be at least 30 per cent.

The mayoral offices are also, according to the report, mainly occupied by men, at 90%. However, the gap is narrowed in positions of vice-mayors in charge of social affairs, 83.3% of them being women.

In education, the gender gaps show that in primary education men represent 50.1%of teachers whereas while in secondary and higher education men are 70%.

In health centres, women represent 58.6%, whereas men are 41.4% which indicates that the area is dominated by women.

Speaking at the event, Yusuf Mago Murangwa, the Director General of NISR, said that the statistics are proportional despite the fact that they keep changing due to new appointments.

"We have launched a new statistical approach, the first of its kind in our country, that will enable different institutions to fulfil their respective mandates in promoting gender equality," he said.

Murangwa said the gender statistics in the public sector show what will be done in gender statistics publication on a quarterly basis.

Speaking to The New Times, Oda Gasinzigwa, the head of the Gender Monitoring Office, said that gender equality in the public is quite impressive.

"We do appreciate what the government is doing to promote gender equality although there are some areas that still show gender imbalances," she noted.

Gasizingwa observed that the statistics will provide vital information on the status of women and men in the society and the gaps that exist in their day-to-day activities in the social, economic and political spheres.

"We shall use these statistics to monitor changes, inform the public and influence the decision makers on how to make the changes," she added.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Aloysea Inyumba, praised NISR for coming up with the gender statistical approach which would help in the promotion of gender equality in the country.

"We didn't have the actual statistical data about gender equality but with the introduction of this one, our work is going to be smooth," she said.

Inyumba called on the general public to always respect gender equality in every situation.

Women make up 40% of the world's labour force, yet they hold only 1% of the world's wealth, according to a World Bank report.

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