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: TheGaurdian
The rights of women in Africa have become an issue of importance especially towards the close of the last century. The African continent in the 21st century can be said to have gone through a renaissance, a rebirth through the flow and transfer of information and increased communication as a result of global technological advancement.

Nigeria

SOURCE: Open Democracy
Gender is a matter of international peace and security. The anniversary of SCR 1325 provides a platform to reclaim the actions and power of women to shape global peace and security in new ways.

Source: Leadership
The UN Women Executive Director, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, on Monday reiterated call for full participation of women at peace talks and negotiations.

She advocated that women should also be part of decision-makers in more inclusive processes.

Source: Liberian Observer
Two of Liberia's prominent women have joined some of Africa's highly influential women to inaugurate a new women's movement on the continent.

Liberia

Source: Liberian Observer
Two of Liberia's prominent women have joined some of Africa's highly influential women to inaugurate a new women's movement on the continent.

Liberia

Source: GhanaWeb
The former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, will be a special guest at a global gathering of women leaders at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Ghana

SOURCE: IPI
On September 25th, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be met over the next 15 years. The excitement was still palpable the next morning at a breakfast meeting convened at the International Peace Institute on "Accelerating Efforts to Promote Gender Equality and Women's Rights."

SOURCE: All Africa
Women are virtually invisible in news reporting on peace and security issues in nations experiencing conflict. Seminal research monitoring media in 15 transitional and conflict countries found that overall women constitute only 13% of persons interviewed or spoken about.

Source: All Africa
In an unprecedented outcome for Egyptian political parties, women raked 19 of 43 seats in the Egyptian Democratic Part's high committee elections on Friday, exceeding the 33 percent women's quota by 10 percentage points.

Egypt

Source: Nyasa Times
After being awarded the 2015 'Women of Distinction Global Leadership Award in Politics' by Celebrating Women International (CWI) in the Paradise Island, The Bahamas, Malawi former president Joyce Banda will on Thursday be guest of honour at a global gathering of women leaders in Accra, Ghana.