- 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: Zawya
Nouakchott - Dr. Fatimetou Mohamed-Saleck, a key contributor to ICT (Information Communication Technologies) development in developing countries and Mauritania, with her prior experience with International Telecommunication Union, and a professional background in Information Technology, will contest the election for the post of Deputy Secretary-General (ITU). Mauritania has declared its intent to participate in the upcoming top-management elections of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which, through its Plenipotentiary Conference 2014, will elect its next Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General.
Source: Punch
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has developed a curriculum targeted at encouraging women at all levels to equip them to actively in the participation of women in politics and key gender-related positions.
Source: IGD
Young African Woman, Adeshola Komolafe, Represents Next Generation of African Leaders.
Source: SACSIS
“All we are asking is that he pay back the money, why are we getting thrown out?” was the question that came from a parliamentary member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who was identified in a Voice of America news report, as “Female EFF member” on 21 August, the day the EFF chanted “pay back the money”, to a humiliated and ill-looking Jacob Zuma. Right before Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the EFF spokesperson started chanting, I hoped for a longer exchange between parliamentary speaker, Baleka Mbete, and the “Female EFF member”.
Source: Un News Centre
The United Nations Security Council has long been a bastion for men selected to represent their countries on what many consider to be the Organization's most powerful body. But now, women ambassadors are filling over a third of the Council's 15 seats, making history at the venerable institution and sending out a strong message about women's empowerment.
Source: AllAfrica
As Tunisia prepares for the October 26th legislative elections, the small number of women at the head of the electoral lists is drawing criticism.
Source: AllAfrica
Morocco's Renaissance and Virtue Party just repeated its call for a quota of seats in parliament to be allocated to ulema.
Source: African Women Leaders' Network
In 2010, with support from AFP and the Packard Foundation, AWLN was launched to provide a platform for strong women champions who are informed and persuasive to advocate for funds and policies for family planning commodities and services to be made available to all women.
A Finn of Somali origin wants to run as a candidate in the Somali presidential election in 2016. Fadumo Dayib is currently studying public administration at Harvard, but she thinks that Somalia is now ready for a female president.
Source: UN News Centre Women are crucial partners in peacebuilding and must be guaranteed the safe political space, including a seat at the "negotiating table," to participate in all steps of post-conflict reconciliation and recovery processes, stressed high-level United Nations officials today at a Headquarters event.
Source: National Democratic Institute
The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit brought government and civil society leaders from across Africa to Washington, D.C., earlier this month for a three day event, which highlighted Africa as an increasingly important actor in world affairs. The Summit also included forum discussions on the importance of civil society and women’s political participation.