- 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:
- As Burundi heads towards the 2015 general elections, and despite a quota of 30 percent women’s representation in parliament, women in this southeast African nation feel that they are yet to have a significant say in the management of their country.
Source: The Guardian
Gender-equality quota will give women more power, but may be more concerned with maintaining the status quo
Source: IPS News
As Burundi heads towards the 2015 general elections, and despite a quota of 30 percent women's representation in parliament, women in this southeast African nation feel that they are yet to have a significant say in the management of their country.
Source: The Guardian
Friday 4 July: Independence Day. There will be speeches, celebrations and fireworks. But these celebrations will be taking place on the other side of the world from the US, because on Friday, the central African country of Rwanda will mark its own Liberation Day.
Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation
The year 2014 marks a very significant step towards building a fairer world for men and women. This year we begin a year-long celebration ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2015. This platform provided the framework to help countries devise public policies to push gender equality forward. We can see substantial progress across different fields.
Source: The Guardian
Rwanda has gone from a disaster zone to a country determined to move on – and it's women driving forward the peace process.
Source: The NewTimes
Involving more women in decision-making has been important in Rwanda's meteoric rise two decades after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, experts attending the ongoing Women In Parliament Summit have said.
Source: The Herald
Women'S Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri (pictured right) has raised concern over the failure by fellow ministers to observe the 50-50 representation in the appointment of parastatal boards.
Having just four women in the new cabinet goes against President El-Sisi's claims that more women should hold important posts, says National Women's Council (NCW).
Source: The Daily Observer
Jainaba Faye, a student of The University of the Gambia was selected by Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa 2014 MILEAD fellowship for her outstanding track records as a determined and development-oriented female youth leader on the quest for the progress and advancement of women and children in The Gambia.
Source: Cordaid
"Traditionally, not a single woman had a voice. Even when she was abused, she had to keep quiet. That was the way of living for all Burundian women and for the majority of us that life was quite normal. Now, a woman who is elected can sit near the Administrator, and can even speak in front of men." Pascasie Hatungimana, hill representative, Bugendana Commune, Gitega Province.