Political Participation & Leadership

It has been argued that where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable. Women's political participation is fundamental for gender equality and their representation in positions of leadership must be a priority for all African governments. Women are largely under-represented in decision-making and leadership positions in Africa.

Over the last years, there has been more women in parliaments and decision-making positions than before. In the parliamentary elections of Rwanda in September 2013 women obtained 64 percent of the seats, which is the highest number in the world. However, women's participation in governmance and decision-making remain very limited. They are outnumbered by men in all decision-making and leadership positions.

In the history of Africa, there are now three women who have been elected president:

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – President of the Republic of Liberia
Joyce Banda – President of the Republic of Malawi
Catherine Samba-Panza – Interim President of the Central African Republic

There is progress here and there on the continent regarding women's rights . We must go much further to ensure greater gender equality in Africa. It is not just a matter of justice....When women take their rightful place at the negotiating table, in the parliament and in leadership positions across society, we can unleash Africa’s enormous potential..." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

To learn more about women's political participation, please visit the following websites:

Source: The New Dawn
The United Nations Mission in Liberia or UNMIL has pledged support to a bill, seeking 30% women involvement in public offices here.

Liberia

Source: Guardian Global Development Network
At this week's conference on Libya in Paris, the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) and the international community talk about "inclusiveness" in the new country's future. It seems strange, then, that half of the population - women -

Libya

Source: RNW
The presidential elections in Cameroon are due to be held in October 2011. Conscious of the high stakes, women's organisations are actively mobilising women to participate in this important political process.

Cameroon

Source: This Day Live
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said the Federal Government had concluded plans to institutionalise a forum for Female Ministers and Advisers in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to provide

Nigeria

Source: Nairobi Star
The constitution must be amended for the two-thirds gender principle to work, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said. Kalonzo said neither the Cabinet nor the government has the intention to deprive women of their fair share of positions in institutions.

Kenya

Source: BuaNews
The Justice Department is working on a model to ensure that the legal work dished out by government is spread out to include the services of black lawyers and women, says Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe.

South Africa

Source: Zambian Watchdog
Where have all the women gone? Long time passing. This year alone, there will be over 30 presidential elections held around the world. Over half of these will be in Africa. On 20 September 2011, Zambia goes to the polls to elect a president, members of parliament

Zambia

Source: Global Voices
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf paved the way in 2006 when she was elected President of Liberia and became the first African woman to reach the top level position. Since then, several other African women have decided to run for the Presidency,

Source: The East African
Why are men 90 per cent of the Members of the Kenyan Parliament?

Kenya

Source: IRIN News
Political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo are struggling to recruit women into their ranks to run for parliament, despite a legal requirement to do so and a belief that greater numbers of female parliamentarians are critical to advancing women's rights.