On 23 June 2023, Members of Parliament, Government Officials, Civil Society Members and NGOs representatives and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Rwandan Parliamentarians’ Network on Population and Development (RPRPD). Under the theme, “Rwandan Welfare: a collective responsibility” the celebration was an opportunity to look back and commemorate the achievements of the past 20 years and express unwavering commitment to contribute to the achievements of improving the welfare and development of the population. 

"It was an opportunity to look back and be sure that there is still a long way to go. As it has been revealed, there is still alarming increasing stunting generally in children under 5, and a big number of people are still being attacked and dying from diseases that are preventable. RPRPD must play a role in resolving these issues" President of the Senate, Dr François Xavier Kalinda urged.
"We can all in our respective responsibilities work together, given that we have learned more all along the past 20 years of the RPRPD. Therefore, the Network can contribute towards the needed changes in the welfare of the people whom we represent and for whom we are the voice." Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Rt. Hon. Mukabalisa urged.

The Rwandan Parliamentarians’ Network on Population and Development (RPRPD) was established following 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.

20 years down the road, among other achievements, MPs members of RPRPD have been involved in initiating the law relating to human reproductive health, in contributing to draft and putting in place other laws related to health, education, anti-gender-based violence, children’s rights, family, and the penal code. 

They have conducted research on various problems affecting the welfare of the citizens and organised campaigns in collaboration with various stakeholders including UNFPA Rwanda, UNAIDS Rwanda and FAO Rwanda to raise awareness among the citizens about how to address the problems affecting them and participate in their socio-economic development with more focus on population growth, family planning, HIV/AIDS, youth reproductive health, maternal newborn and child health to name few.