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:

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Source: News24
The Lagos State Government has sworn in 12 new magistrates, a majority of them female.

The 10 female magistrates and their male counterparts join the existing 107 presiding over the magistrate courts in the state.

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Source: Daily Independent
Abuja — Arrangements have been concluded to provide women at the grassroots level in Africa with leadership and advocacy skills that would enable them to contribute meaningfully in the democratic space.

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Source: The Point
COLUMN

Hello and a warm welcome to another edition of She-she-she, your weekly column that deals with issues of women and girls.

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Source: Leadership Nigeria News
Political parties in the country have been urged to produce more women candidates in the 2015 general elections. Hajiya Halima Alfa, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the call in a statement issued and signed by her to commemorate the 2014 Democracy Day on Thursday.

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Source: Newsday
Young sexual and reproductive health rights activist, Charmaine Picardo, says her participation in the Washington Fellowship will assist her in developing local solutions to common health challenges affecting young people.

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Source: Gender Links
Following the elections and President Jacob Zuma's recent cabinet appointments, South Africa has missed its last opportunity - so tantalizingly close - to achieve gender parity in politics ahead of the 2015 deadline.

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Source: allAfrica

It is common to hear people talk about women's empowerment and the liberation of women from poverty and domestic oppression and exploitation as pre-requisites for national development. Issues concerning women are hence integrated in the national policies and programmes. What is different, however, is the practicalisation of such policy statements.

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Source: Africa UP Close

Next year, the world will be marking 20 years of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which is the global framework for advancing gender equality and addressing issues affecting women and girls.

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Source: The Point

Gambia’s first lady Zineb Yahya Jammeh has declared that The Gambia is on track towards achieving MDG 3, which is “to promote gender equality and empower women”.

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Source: Sunday Trust
ANALYSIS

Yola — On April 30 this year, Binta Masi Garba was elected chairman of Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party's state congress held at Ribadu Square in Yola

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Source: This Day Live
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), a pro-democracy group, yesterday in Enugu bemoaned the level of participation of women in the governance process since the return of democracy in Nigeria, noting that it had devised strategies to ensure that women take effective part in the coming elections.

  1. EGYPT: Council - High Turnout At Women's Poll Stations On First Day of Elections
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  3. GHANA: Missing Women Leadership Role Lingering Ghanaian Society
  4. INTERNATIONAL: Empowering Women Is Empowering Humanity
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