Davos, 23 January 2014
President Kagame today attended an MDG special event calling for increased investment in Girl’s Empowerement. President Kagame who serves as co-chair MDG Advocates Group joined United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the new MDG Advocates group co-chair Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
During his address, President Kagame emphasized the need to invest in ensuring girls are able to fulfill their full potential:
“Investing in girl’s empowerment calls for increased investment in the good health of the girl child as we do for the boys, so that they all grow into balanced human beings with equal opportunities to realise any aspirations they choose to follow in life.”
United Nations Secretary General reiterated his commitment to gender parity and recognized Rwanda as exemplary in ensuring gender equality:
“When you invest in girls future, you are guaranteed results that multiply across society on health, education, peace and welfare of future generations. Let us make their future our focus and they will make a difference.”
Addressing the audience, Prime Minister Erna Solberg committed to increasing investment in girls education and achieve MDG goal 3 of gender parity :
“We must all contribute. We must all walk the talk. The task is to put all available resources and ideas in a sustainable sprint towards achieving our goals.”
This event takes place 707 days before the date set for the achievement of the current Millenium Development Goals. Rwanda is currently on track to achieve all of the Millenium Development Goals.
President Kagame ended the day with a keynote speech at an event titled Germany meets Africa alongside Philip Missfeder, a member of the German Bundestag.