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Athan Tashobya
Women harvest their produce from a family farm in Karongi. The new law seeks to guarantee womens right to property inheritance, especially land. (File)
Angelique Mukakalisa, 28, a resident of Rubengera Sector, Karongi District was denied the right to inherit family property. She said her father regarded women as inferior to men and, therefore, not deserving equal consideration.
Born in a family of six, four girls and two boys, Mukakalisa said boys got a lion's share of the land while girls were either given a cow, goats or smaller portions of land depending on their age.
"We were given less but never put up a fight because that is what tradition dictates. We instead engaged mediators,"Mukakalisa said.
Mukakalisa represents millions of women who are discriminated against as a result of negative perceptions on women.
There are policies on gender balance in accessing inheritance. However, some parents have opted to ignore them and stick to traditional values that have given men preferential treatment.
According to a study commissioned by the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) in August 2011, gender disparities arise from the slow change in attitude, and ignorance of the law on succession.
The study highlights gender inequalities in the law enacted in 1999, especially in allocating equal distribution of inheritances.
"Most respondents said parents do not treat their children equally when it comes to land distribution. In...