In African politics today, there are two female heads of state: Joyce Banda in Malawi, and Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson in Liberia. The country with the highest representation of women parliamentarians in the world is Rwanda.
As the 'African Renaissance' gains steam, the Chair of the African Union Commission is a remarkable woman, Madame Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. But despite these gains, women are still not adequately represented. For instance, it is not certain if a single female governor or senator will be elected in this week's Kenyan election. Women's political representation and participation matters, and these results reflect how women are perceived in our societies.
The message for International Women's Day in 2013 is "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women". In our region, approximately one in four women will be beaten, raped, abused, or mutilated in their lifetimes. This is unspeakable and unacceptable. It is time for governments to protect the human rights of all citizens.
We should be encouraged by the adoption by 39 African UN Member States of the Addis Ababa declaration of zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. This solemn vow made in January is currently guiding Africa's input into to the 57th Commission on the Status of Women, taking place right now at the UN Headquarters in New York. At the commission, world leaders are debating policies and sharing best practice programs designed to prevent violence and protect survivors.
One of these, the Women's Situation Room, was launched for the Kenyan election period on the 20th of February this year. Based on similar initiatives in Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone, with UN Women's support it will gather, analyse and respond to real-time information from field observers throughout the country. As of Thursday morning, the Situation Room has handled and resolved 164 cases. We hope that this initiative will protect women from the violence many were subjected to in 2007-08, when the backdrop of broader conflict and chaos left women and girls particularly vulnerable.
Continuing violence and discrimination against women and girls is restricting Africa's development. A 2012 study found that the annual gender gap in labour participation and education creates economic losses for Africa of between US$159 and US$255 billion. In Kenya, women make up 75 per cent of the agricultural workforce, yet own just one per cent of land and have access to one per cent of available credit. By equalising access to inputs like credit, seeds, fertiliser and technology for women farmers, a World Bank study found that annual GDP growth in Kenya could double.
UN Women believes that change like this can and must happen. We are currently working with partners in government, the private sector, and civil society to remove barriers to women's empowerment.
We have recently announced a regional partnership with Airtel to provide real-time market and other information to women farmers through their cellphones. In coming weeks and months we will announce further aspects of this program. Investing in women is smart economics- and we will work with organisations, companies, and leaders that share our vision of inclusive growth.
This year, in an unprecedented step for an international organisation, UN Women is releasing a song, featuring 25 artists from 20 countries. The song, "One Woman", is inspired by the stories of women whom UN Women has supported. It is available today at www.song.unwomen.org, together with a video and behind-the-scenes footage. The song recognises the central role women play in every society, and called for African governments to fully value women's contribution.
On the African Continent, the message of "One Woman" resonates more than anywhere. As long as women and girls are held back, Africa is held back. As long as the violence against our mothers, sisters and daughters continues, Africa is not at peace. This International Women's Day, let's bring women to the heart of Africa's Renaissance.
Christine Musisi is regional director of UN Women East and Southern Africa