Source: Africa Science News
Global children's charity, Plan International has called on governments in Africa to invest in girls´ education in order to create an even-playing field for men and women in leadership positions and to improve the numbers and influence of women in all political decision -making structures.

In a report released on the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, Plan International says, although significant progress has been made in increasing women's representation and participation over the past 20 years, the majority of girls and women in Africa continue to be excluded from decision-making at national and community level.

The report entitled: Enhancing the power of girls in society, in economy and in leadership, is part of a series of annual reports published by Plan International in the context of its global campaign called 'Because I am a Girl.' It is based on a research conducted in 17 African countries during the course of 2014.

According to Plan International, governments in Africa should effectively implement gender quotas for political parties representation at all levels and in all branches of government.

"We call on political parties to create an enabling environment for the participation of girls and women as voters and candidates as well as develop mechanisms to increase the number of women in party leadership positions and adopt internal rules to advance women in 50 percent of positions in each election," the report says.

The report also calls on women parliamentarians to serve as mentors and role models to girls to inspire them to engage in public life and create the critical mass required to shape the "gender agenda."

The report urge Women in Parliament to work with women from all political parties to establish a formal women's network to advocate for a common women's agenda; develop legislation that requires political parties to comply with affirmative action policies and review existing laws and propose amendments to ensure that they are gender sensitive and respect women's rights.

"The low rates of women in government and other positions of power, negatively affect girls ,we can see clearly, in those countries where women have a stronger voice in decision-making, national budgets are invested in a different way: more child-friendly, more family-friendly and more geared towards human development," said Roland Angerer ,Plan International's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

According to Carol Sherman, the Country Director of Plan International in Kenya ,there is need to develop more Girls' leadership programmes and link them directly to a variety of institutions and County and national level government so women and youth actively participate and set the agenda for their futures".

Ms Sherman was speaking at the event that hosted thought leaders from corporations, government agencies and civil society institutions who are committed to empowering girls.

2015 is a landmark year marking the 20th anniversary of the Beijing world conference on women and ending the period when the MDGs should be met.

Plan International believes that adolescent girls were a neglected group within the existing MDGs and given the particular constraints faced by adolescent girls at a critical time of their lives hence the debate on post-2015 agenda provides an important opportunity to put gender equality at the heart of efforts to address poverty and inequality.