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: Global Press Institute
In preparation for Cameroon’s October presidential elections, the lone woman candidate is campaigning throughout the country and encouraging women to vote.

Cameroon

Source: AfricaNews
Arab women have shown that women can play important roles in revolutionary events. In Egypt and Tunisia they participated in the popular uprisings for democracy. "The women contributed equally to the revolution, like the men," affirms Emna Ben Jemaa, a Tunisian lecturer and journalist. "We took part in protests in the street, without any discrimination against us."

Source: All Africa
After decades of marginalisation, South Sudanese women may soon be able to lead a normal life now that their country has gained independence and ended years of conflict with North Sudan.

Source: Agencia AngolaPress
The deputy chairperson of the Pan-African Women Organisation for Southern Africa, Carolina Cerqueira, Thursday in Sumbe, Kwanza Sul province, urged women to invest in their education so they become fit to contribute to the country’s reconstruction and development.

Source: Global Press Institute
Ruth Zozi, 47, dreams of becoming a member of Parliament, MP, and representing her constituency. But she says there are three factors that will never allow her dream to come true: She is illiterate. She is poor. She is a woman.

Zambia

Source: Reuters
Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf pledged on Tuesday to step up the fight against unemployment in her West African nation if re-elected later this year, saying in an interview she was confident of securing a second term.

Liberia

Source: IPS
Rwanda is the first country in the world where women outnumber men in parliament, with women occupying 45 out of 80 seats. However, despite this, experts say that the country still needs a gender equality perspective on how national resources and programmes are implemented.

Rwanda

Source: All Africa
Uíge — The deputy governor of Uije province for technical and infrastructure affairs, Afonso Luvilukua, on Monday here said that the Angolan women have achieved satisfactory advancement in her emancipation, being notorious her presence in the decision-making organs, Angop has learnt.

Angola

Source: All Africa
Next Friday, the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) will celebrate 15 years of existence and, if the news conference members held is anything to go by, they are pretty pleased with themselves.

Rwanda

Source: The Jerusalem Post
As Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf reshuffles his cabinet, trying to placate the boiling Egyptian street with a more representative government, women have started to speak up, demanding greater representation in politics.