- 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: IPS
"We have had enough of the training given to us in cooking, sewing and household works… We now have another dream: of participating actively in the development of our island at decision-making level," says Marie-Anne Laganne, a political trainer at Women In Politics.
Source: IPS
It would have been hard for a teenaged Margaret Nnananyana Nasha to imagine that she would grow up to become one of the most powerful figures in Botswana's government.
Source: Awoko
A local NGO, Movement for Resettlement and Rural Development (MORD) and the civil society governance outfit Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) have ended a dialogue forum with stakeholders and representatives from political parties, civil society organizations and women activists under the project “Strengthening cooperation for women’s political participation, rights and empowerment in society”.
Source: Pambazuka
Egyptian women describe the spirit of Tahrir and their hope that the equality they found there will live on.
Source: ReliefWeb
The African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today organized the launch of the Darfur Regional Women's Legislative Caucus, in El Fasher, North Darfur.
Source: IPS
Fatima Asmal interviews ZANELE MAGWAZA-MSIBI, leader of South Africa's National Freedom PartyDURBAN - Zanele Magwaza-Msibi is a woman with a mission: to serve the people of South Africa. She is poised to become leader of South Africa's newest political party, the National Freedom Party (NFP), after breaking away from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), where she served as national chairperson
Source: Daily Independent
Mrs. Helen Esuene is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the April general elections. In this interview with Correspondent, ANIEFIOK MACAULEY, she speaks on a wide range of issues including the edge she had over the incumbent senator Eme Ekaette at the primaries, women participation in politics, her priorities if elected in the main election and why the PDP should not impose unpopular candidates on the people. Excerpts…
Source: Pambazuka
The institutions and organisations below have signed this statement in disapproval of the criteria and formation of the Constitutional Committee, whereby the committee does not include a single female expert. Advancing with a committee like this, triggers fears and suspicions with regards to the future of Egypt and the transitional phase.'
Source: WOMENSENEWS
Two Egyptian women's rights leaders say Suzanne Mubarak controlled their arena and stymied progress. Now they look ahead, with an eye on history. The Algerian and Iranian revolutions were different, but still cautionary for women.
Source: AFP
WASHINGTON — The United States voiced regret Saturday at the absence of women on a committee tasked with proposing amendments to Egypt's constitution despite their participation in protests that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Source: The Nigerian Observer
The issue of women’s participation in the political processes of societies, especially democratic ones, is one that has engaged the attention of scholars and researchers (Mcclsky, 1968, Stacey and Price, 1981, Welch 1980, Ifamose 2000 and Makinde 2000). Some studies on the role of Nigerian Women’s participation in politics have come to establish that the level has varied over time.