RPRPD

RPRPD

Network of Rwandan Parliamentarians on Population and Development (RPRPD)

I. INTRODUCTION

The Network of Rwandan Parliamentarians on Population and Development (RPRPD) was created in response to the decision by the Rwanda National Transitional Assembly and its Statutes were adopted by 48 Deputies at the Constituent Assembly held on January 28, 2003. It was officially launched on January 31, 2003. It is a structure affiliated and accountable to Parliament. Since its creation, RPRPD has enjoyed technical and financial support from UNFPA and Parliament of Rwanda.

The Network gradually extended its partnership with various International Organizations and decentralized entities as part of joint activities in connection with reproductive health, the fight against AIDS and fostering of socio-economic welfare of the population.

II. EFFECTIVE MEMBERSHIP STATUS

Effective membership is available upon application to any Parliamentarian (Deputy and Senator) who commits to adhering to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure of the Network. Membership to the Network is open to all sitting Parliamentarians. Former Parliamentarians may maintain their status of membership to the Network (Art. 5, 6, 7 of the Statutes).

III.MISSION

In addition to working towards implementation of the recommendations of the Program of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt from 5-13 September 1994, the Network seeks to implement the Beijing Declaration on women’s promotion held in January 1995, the Program for the promotion of the population and development policy agreed upon between UNFPA and Rwanda as well as the national long-term development strategy known as ”Vision 2020”.

IV. PURPOSE

RPRPD pursues the purpose of providing better avenues for Parliamentarians to discharge their advocacy role by carrying out actions that respond to the expectations of the population and directly aim at improving their living conditions (reproductive health, gender promotion, and fight against poverty), improving the Rwandan legal and regulatory framework and delivering quality public services.

V. OBJECTIVES

1. Promote and protect fundamental rights of the entire population in general and those of women and children in particular;

2. Encourage greater access to education for all by fighting against gender disparities;

3. Support actions that contribute to the fight against poverty;

4. Fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other endemic diseases;

5. Promote family planning and reproductive health especially that of teenagers;

6. Form an awareness, information and action framework bringing together Parliamentarians to address peculiar socio-economic problems connected with the population;

7. Build the capacity of Parliamentarians in advocacy techniques;

8.Foster sub-regional, regional and international inter-parliamentary cooperation in the areas of population and development.

VI. FIELDS OF ACTIVITY

1. Organize a regular discussion forum on the global situation of population intended for Parliamentarians and other national authorities;

2. Hold internal hearings on topical issues with authorities and technicians from public services;

3. Organize training seminars for Parliamentarians;

4. Organize field visits by Parliamentarians to Provinces to monitor the implementation of the national population policy and get acquainted with achievements in the area of community development at the decentralized level;

5. Organize awareness-raising sessions for local elected officials on the interrelationships between population and development;

6. Establish and maintain a sub-regional dialogue for Great Lakes countries with a view to harmonizing their national legislations relating to population and development especially in the area of reproductive health;

7. Initiate private member’s bills on reproductive health, family planning, population and environment, sexual violence and HIV/AIDS;

8. Maintain a national permanent dialogue on reproductive health intended for religious denominations;

9. Organize talks with local structures such as women's associations and youth centers about population and development and reproductive health;

VII. STRUCTURE OF THE NETWORK

RPRPD consists of 3 administrative organs:

1. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Network;

2. The Coordinating Committee (CC) is the executive organ of the Network and comprises of 5 members: Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Communication and Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance;

3. The Supervisory Committee (SC) comprises of 3 members particularly tasked with conducting financial monitoring and auditing;

As part of efforts to assist the Coordinating Committee, the following 4 Committees headed each by a bureau composed of a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson were created:

a) Committee on Legal Affairs and Gender;

b) Committee on Education, Communication and Research;

c) Committee on Reproductive Health and the Fight against HIV/AIDS;

d) Committee on Population and the Fight against Poverty.

To ensure effective daily management and assist its Committee in conducting coordination activities, RPRPD has a Permanent Secretariat housed in the Rwanda’s Parliament building.

Our address:

Parliamentary building, KIMIHURURA

E-mail: rprpd03@yahoo.fr

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