- 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: All Africa
"You have shown your courage by overcoming the gender stereotypes; you are a strong role model to women, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions, as well as to little girls, emboldening them to aspire to higher heights in their future career."
SOURCE: All Africa
Angola is still concerned about the "deteriorating and unacceptable state of African women and youth as they face increasing levels of unemployment, poverty, armed conflicts and prevailing diseases".
SOURCE: Standard Digital
In the now highly acclaimed TED talk entitled "The Danger of a Single Story", award-winning author Chimamanda Adichie makes the point that when you show a person as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, that is what they become.
In other words, to define a person, especially to define a person in the media, perception is more important than reality. Women leaders in Kenya have been especially susceptible to twisted attacks by a male-dominated patriarchal system that is unable and unwilling to countenance women as part of the power structure.
Source: All Africa
Montserrado County District #1 Representative Josephine Francis has challenged women to see the 2017 general elections as "the perfect chance" to capture 50 percent of the 73 seats in the Lower House of the National Legislature.
Source: UN Woman
A dozen of the women candidates trained by UN Women and partners speak about the challenges they've faced in the lead-up to this weekend's presidential, parliamentary and local elections and how the training has motivated them.
Source: All Africa
Egyptian women won 30 seats in the House of Representatives according to preliminary results of the first phase of parliamentary elections, which saw a turnout of 26.56 percent in 14 provinces including the capital's twin governorate of Giza.
Source: BusinessGhana
The West Africa Network for Peacebuidling (WANEP) has called for the legal empowerment of women politically and economically, to enable them play equal part in peace and security.
Source: Vibe Ghana
Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has given the assurance that government will in the near future ensure a fair representation of women at the National Peace Council.
Source: All Africa
A number of wives in Tanga region, have complained that their husbands hide their voter's identity cards to prevent them from voting in the forthcoming general election. This, indeed, is unthinkable as husbands are not expected to be this foolhardy.
Source: All Africa
The under performance of some female politicians has undermined the credibility of prospective female candidates for state powers both in Liberia and Africa at large.
SOURCE: CNN
Rehema Mayuya has caused quite the scandal. It started when she convinced her 56-year-old husband, Thabit Yusuf Fundil, to return his 13-year-old bride. Ever since, Mayuya's relationship with her husband's family has been strained.