TODAY, Rwanda joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Women's Day. This year's theme, Gender agenda gaining momentum' is one in which this country has reveled in. From the very top levels of leadership to individual households, women are taking the lead where the betterment of their families and the society at large is concerned.

Women's progress shouldn't be measured on the basis of how many they are in parliament, or how many are in positions of authority. It isn't enough to say that the fight for gender equality is over simply because more women are studying sciences in both high school and university.

We must measure the progress we've made as a society, vis-à-vis gender relations, by whether the gender-based violence statistics are falling. We must measure the progress we are making by measuring falling rates of maternal mortality. How many women have been able to access financial services as compared to the previous year?

We have made tremendous progress over the last few years. However, we must not rest on our laurels. We haven't reached the Promised Land. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Rwanda's women do. This will not just empower them but it will empower each and every one of us. A luta Continua.