- 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:
Women from across Zimbabwe have celebrated the launch of a strategic high-level women’s coalition. The voluntary group will lobby to ensure that the new constitution, currently being drafted, will deliver on gender equality and empowerment for women in the country.
Ada Agina-Udeh's life revolves around women because her aim is to be a change agent for our society. As the Executive Director of Gender and Development Action (GADA), she is not only a frontline gender activist but also a force to reckon with when it comes to female political participation. She told Daily Sun recently that ignorance is the worst enemy of women in all sphere of life.
The United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has described the violence which has been experienced at certain polling stations over the biometric registration as a manifestation of intolerance.
Source: The New Times
SITTING under the shade of a mango tree, Agnes Uyisabye is reviewing the lists of beneficiaries of the country's health insurance scheme alongside a dozen or so grassroots community health workers.
Source: GhanaWeb
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) on Wednesday said, it viewed with dismay the gradual plunging of Ghana into mayhem as a result of the political violence which had characterized the biometric voter registration. A statement issued by Ms Jane Quaye, Executive Director of FIDA and copied to the GNA in Accra said the battering of Ms Ursula Owusu called for great concern because the incident was creating a test case for women who might wish to venture into politics.
If women activists are excited, it is because this represents progress in Southern Africa as we ebb closer to 2015, in which 50% of women should be in decision-making positions according to the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
WOMEN have been urged to unite and speak with one voice so that their agenda and wishes are incorporated in the new constitution.
Source: ISS
If women activists are excited, it is because this represents progress in Southern Africa as we ebb closer to 2015, in which 50% of women should be in decision-making positions according to the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
Nigeria and Ethiopia have adopted federal systems that allow citizens to elect their own representatives at the state and local levels. The states also have their own courts and can collect taxes for their own use.
It may well be termed A Tale of Two Joyces, or Joices, if you choose to, two individuals same name, same gender, same generation and almost similar stumbling blocks.
Political party members have been advised not to discriminate against women vying for top leadership posts in the country.