- 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: Zambia Daily Mail
WHILE gender issues elicit a wide array of emotions the proposal to replace 'Free men we stand' with 'Freely we stand' in the chorus of Zambia's national anthem is set to get more tongues wagging.
ABANTU for Development, in collaboration with Women in Broadcasting (WIB) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) will be organizing a series of monthly press conferences starting from today June 11 to November 13, 2012 (once every month for 6 months) to highlight pertinent issues for consideration by the media and the general public on the urgent need to continue women's rights and gender equality in the Election 2012 and beyond.
Source: The New Age
The woman everyone is talking about today is Mangwashi Victoria "Riah" Phiyega who was yesterday announced as the country's newest police commissioner and the first female to take the job, closing the door on the Bheki Cele saga.
Source: Cameroon Tribune
The plan whose examination started yesterday aims at boosting women's participation.Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) with the support of UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have drawn up a strategy plan on "Gender and Elections" intended to boost the participation of women in politics and increase their numbers in elective positions. The opening ceremony to validate the strategy plan took place at the Mont Febe Hotel in Yaounde, yesterday, June 11 and will continue in a two-day workshop in Mbalmayo beginning today, June 12.
Source: Bloomberg
Egypt’s parliament will meet on June 12 to elect a 100-member panel that will draft the country’s new constitution, after political groups overcame an impasse that clouded the push for democracy ahead of a presidential runoff.
Source: All Africa
ABANTU for Development, in collaboration with Women in Broadcasting (WIB) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) will be organizing a series of monthly press conferences starting from today June 11 to November 13, 2012 (once every month for 6 months) to highlight pertinent issues for consideration by the media and the general public on the urgent need to continue women's rights and gender equality in the Election 2012 and beyond.
Source: Rwanda Focus
On Monday, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) held a meeting aiming at enhancing their partnership and information sharing on gender matters.
Source: The New Times
A new report has revealed disturbing facts; Rwandan women occupy few leadership positions, contrary to the common belief that Rwanda has a fairly high number of women leaders.
Source: IPS
"It was so frustrating but so exciting at the same time," recalls 15-year-old Mariam Assam, a year-10 student in Cairo. Assam was recalling the days she tried to join protestors during the Egyptian revolution in January 2011 but was intially prevented by her parents who said street protests were no place for a girl to be.
Source: The Star
Kanu's Sarah Talaso Bonaya is the only Kenyan MP out of the nine who served in the second EALA to make a return to the regional parliament during yesterday's election. Talaso received 125 votes, the highest tally of the day, making a rare history of being the first Kenyan to serve at the regional parliament for two consecutive terms.
Source: Zimbabwe Independent
ZIMBABWEAN women involved in politics and civil society have warned against holding elections without creating a peaceful environment for free and fair polls. They argue that it will have disastrous consequences for them and expose the vulnerable girl child to gross human rights violations including harassment, rape and displacement.