WIDE ANGLE: LADIES FIRST (TV)
Summary
Mishal Husain hosts this documentary series that investigates contemporary global, political, and social issues. In this episode, filmmaker Gini Reticker reports from Rwanda on how women are breaking new ground to unify the African country after the 1994 genocide. The program begins by explaining how women came to dominate the Rwandan population after so many men were slaughtered. Rwandan women recall how they were considered "property" in the country until recently. However, now, Rwandan women are outspoken leaders. Florence Kamili Kayiraba became a mayor in 2001 of the Kicukiro District. She discusses how a female in office tends to help other women. Meanwhile, Rwandan couples are learning new ways to handle marriage, being offered several different pre-nuptial agreements from which they can choose. One woman, Rehema Mukandeheri, talks about dealing with her rude in-laws, thinking they must not know about the new Rwandan laws. Kayiraba learned that most couples weren't getting married because they couldn't afford the nine-dollar fee. Thus, she sponsored a free marriage day. Kayiraba presides over the ceremony, where Mukandeheri arrives with her common-law husband. Kayiraba speaks to the couples, explaining what the law requires of them. At Mukandeheri's wedding feast, prayers are said as she becomes a "shareholder" in her husband's plot of land. Then, Mukandeheri's father-in-law, Jean Francois Saveri, talks about the marriage. Mukandeheri is finally assured that she can't be "cast out." However, widows struggle under the new system. Christine Tuyisenge, head of judicial affairs at Haguruka, a legal aid society for women and children, talks about improving living conditions of the women tossed out by their common-law husbands' families. Solena Mukanyonga, a client of Tuyisenge's, details her struggles financially and with her in-laws after her husband died in the genocide. Tuyisenge tells how some Rwandan courts still do not know about the new rights granted to women. The genocide still looms large over Rwanda, with the aftereffects still a daily reality. The program discusses how the Hutu majority killed the Tutsi minority. Ten years later, it remains difficult for Tutsi widows to deal with Hutu women whose husbands may have killed the Tutsi husbands. The church tries to help the Tutsi women, making them realize they need to put the tragedy behind them. Likewise, Hutu women have to survive with their husbands now in prison. Prisoner Emmanuel Nsabimana discusses being visited by his wife in jail. At Gacaca courts, those guilty of genocidal crimes are allowed to confess their crimes and ask for forgiveness from their victims' families. After the genocide, women had to learn to run their own businesses. Epiphanie Mukashyaka, decided to rebuild the coffee business she once shared with her now-dead husband. Mukashyaka explains how she found success with her project. Mukashyaka also helps her employees with pressing financial needs. In the capital of Kigali, during the opening day of the second trimester of parliament in 2004, women dominate the political landscape. In fact, Rwanda leads the world in female representation in a national legislature. Juliana Kantengwa, who was elected to the national Chamber of Deputies in 2003, talks about how, as part of the government's unification program, Rwandans are now flooding the universities, with girls being implored to continue their education. Those featured in the program then offer their final thoughts on the future of women in Rwanda, believing that prospects look very bright. Afterward, Husain speaks with Ambassador Swanee Hunt about how women are advancing in Rwanda since the genocide and why the world has a stake in Rwanda's success.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: July 22, 2004 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:89420
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries; Women in politics; Women in business
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2002-2009
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Stephen Segaller … Executive Producer
- Micah Fink … Coordinating Producer
- Pamela Friedman … Coordinating Producer
- Andy Halper … Senior Producer
- Colette Kunkel … Producer
- Gini Reticker … Producer, Director
- Deborah Shaffer … Writer, Producer
- Erin Chapman … Associate Producer
- Nina Chaudry … Associate Producer
- Amy Rubin … Associate Producer
- Mara Posner … Graphic Producer
- Pamela Hogan … Series Producer
- Ted Kuhn … Music by
- Douglas J. Cuomo … Music by
- Jay O. Sanders … Narrator
- Mishal Husain … Host
- Swanee Hunt … Guest
- Juliana Kantengwa
- Florence Kamili Kayiraba
- Solena Mukanyonga
- Rehema Mukandeheri
- Epiphanie Mukashyaka
- Emmanuel Nsabimana
- Jean Francois Saveri
- Christine Tuyisenge