- 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:
The number of female elected parliamentarians in Senegal’s National Assembly has almost doubled thanks to the impact of new parity laws on the July elections..
ILO’s gender policy specialist welcomes recent achievements on gender equality in politics but says more needs to be done including in the world of work.
Since 2006, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has published an annual report on gender inequality around the world. The Global Gender Gap Report (GGGR) ranks countries according to their scores in four categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
Last week’s visit by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia brought both inspiration for Tanzanian women and for African development.
It's a dream come true for African women, says Litha Musyimi-Ogana, the African Union's chief pointsperson on gender issues as she hails the election of the first female head of the AU Commission, saying more women in positions of power will spur the continent's resurgence.
THE year 2012 has thus far proved promising for the African woman's status within public bodies following the recent election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as African Union Commission Chair.
African leaders have for the first time elected a woman and a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission.
Source: Africa Brains
Spindelegger congratulates Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her election as Chairperson of African Union Commission (AU)
On the occasion of the election of the South African Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger stressed the importance of the AU for peace, security, and development on the continent. “For the first time, a woman was elected to lead the African Union Commission”, said Spindelegger, “this is a milestone and a signal of the significant changes taking place on this continent. I congratulate Minister Dlamini-Zuma for this responsible position”.
Beatrice Boateng, a member of parliament with the New Patriotic Party, Ghana’s official opposition to the ruling New Democratic Congress, has earned her place among the country’s lawmakers.
THE NEED to have a violence-free election in December 2012 in Ghana is of utmost importance to Ghanaians, institutions and developing partners at large.
South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has won a vote to become the first female head of the African Union Commission, ITVNews reported the commission's delegates as saying.