- 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: Pambazuka
Though little acknowledged, one year prior to the founding of the OAU, Pan African Women's Organization was formed in 1962 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It could be said that PAWO was the building block, the impetus, for the establishment of the OAU.
The United Nations today called on Libya to ensure women in the country actively participate in the drafting of the new constitution, stressing their contributions are necessary to rebuild the nation.
Source: Daily Observer
The Gambia will host the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Leadership Conference from 6-8 June, 2013 at the conference hall of The Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (TANGO) in Fajara, a press release from the Women Empowering Nations has stated.
The stage is all set for African women as wife of Nigeria's President; Dame Patience Goodluck is billed to flag-off the 5th edition of African Women in Leadership Conference holding on the 14th of June, 2013 at the prestigious Le Meridian Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Sponsored by The African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO),
Source: This Day
The former Vice President for Africa, World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has called on governments in Nigeria and other African countries to make more provision for women to occupy political positions. According to her, having more women in power would reduce corruption and increase accountability.
Source: Leadership
Aisha Jibrin Dukku was a minister between 2007 and 2010 during the administration of late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua. She was Minister of State for Education and belonged to the inner caucus of the president's family. She became one of the first truly conservative Fulani families to attain this position on her on merit.
Source: Leadership
President Goodluck Jonathan's administration is now defined by several influential women around him. These women are not only vocal but are assigned responsibilities and positions of authority that are difficult to overlook.
They not only formulate policies; they insist on pushing them through. A sampler: When the president removed subsidy on petrol on January 1, 2012, most Nigerians blamed it on Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , the minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy.
Source: The Herald
There is no doubt that the first quarter of the year can best be described as historic and one of the few momentous occasions where both men and women in support of gender parity have witnessed many landmark decisions taking place in a short period of time to address discrepancies in
gender issues.
Source: The Chronicle
Over 120 women, drawn from various women's groups, movements and associations in Bolgatanga, have advocated the immediate passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law.
The proposed Affirmative Action Bill final draft, which was validated in April this year in Koforidua, if passed into law, would ensure the Ghanaian government keeps to its promise of a 40% quota of representation for women in key decision-making positions, using the affirmative action directive.
Source: The Herald
Women have been called upon to take advantage of the new Constitution to campaign for posts in the impending harmonised polls. This was said during the launch of the Vote For a Woman campaign, an initiative of the Women In Politics Support Network, on Thursday.
Mr Claude Maerten, Head of European Union (EU) delegation to Ghana, has said the low representation of women in politics was an indication that Ghana was not maximizing its full potential for development.