- 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:
Toure was justice minister in the outgoing government and led the government's drive to stamp out corruption by pursuing high-level cases involving senior officials, including the son of former president Abdoulaye Wade.
Archaic and chauvinistic practices are being used to prevent Swazi women from taking part in the upcoming primary elections, despite the country having a constitution that guarantees their rights, says political analyst Dr. Sikelela Dlamini.
Women in power and privileged positions should ensure that all stumbling blocks such as the bureaucratic delays in the granting of loans to women to start businesses are removed.
Source: AllAfrica
PRESS RELEASE
Three Ghana-based civil society organisations, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), West Africa Network for Peacebulding (WANEP), and the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), have jointly commenced a project aimed at enhancing the voices of women in the media.
CHIEF Justice, Mohamed Chande Othman has appealed to leaders of African countries to remove patriarchy system, saying it has been denying capable women the chance to be appointed as judges in the continent's legal sector.
Source: Times Live
Around 100 women were in the conference room around 10am.
A Swazi woman was banned from being nominated to stand as a member of parliament because she was wearing trousers at the nomination centre.
Women's political representation is vital to securing greater gender equality, feminists and others argue. Africa has made great strides in electing more women to its parliaments.
Source: IPS
Malawi's President Joyce Banda knows a thing or two about women's empowerment. After all she is the first female southern African head of state.
Source: Voices of Africa
A black Mercedes pulls up in a grimy street in Bamako and the back door swings open. A satin-shoed foot emerges beneath a crisp brocade gown and steps gingerly on to the litter-strewn asphalt.
NELSON CHAMISA is whipping up the crowd at an election rally for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Chitungwiza on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, as the July 31st poll approaches. "A Zanu-PF rally is like a funeral; an MDC rally is like a wedding," the politician says to cheers from supporters in red MDC T-shirts and hats.