Political Participation & Leadership

It has been argued that where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable. Women's political participation is fundamental for gender equality and their representation in positions of leadership must be a priority for all African governments. Women are largely under-represented in decision-making and leadership positions in Africa.

Over the last years, there has been more women in parliaments and decision-making positions than before. In the parliamentary elections of Rwanda in September 2013 women obtained 64 percent of the seats, which is the highest number in the world. However, women's participation in governmance and decision-making remain very limited. They are outnumbered by men in all decision-making and leadership positions.

In the history of Africa, there are now three women who have been elected president:

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: allAfrica

A colourful ceremony was held in Accra yesterday to relaunch the Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM), an all female affiliate of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

Source: allAfrica

On 23 April 2018 Girl Child Empowerment conducted a community dialogue meeting in Masthebe community in Bulawayo. The activity was cemented with the passion of lifting the banner for young girls and women towards participating in 2018 national elections.

Zimbabwe

Source: allAfrica

Of the 70 elected Senators, 22 of them are women as compared to 2013 polls where female Senators occupied 17 seats.

Cameroon

Source: allAfrica

Zimbabwe's new Constitution promulgated into law in 2013 brought many robust changes that were achieved through wide consultative forums where millions of people participated throughout Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Source: allAfrica

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania Gender Network Programme (TGNP) has launched an online programme to empower young women in leadership.

Tanzania

Source: allAfrica

Political parties in Cameroon have set an ambitious goal ahead of this year’s polls — to put women in at least 30 percent of elected offices.

Cameroon

Source: allAfrica

President Mnangagwa last week appointed High Court Judge justice Priscilla Chigumba as the new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairwoman. The appointment comes hard on the heels of other appointments of women in key positions.

Zimbabwe

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

Few women are likely to win seats in Nigeria's 2019 general elections due to discrimination, a lack of will from political parties and a shortage of female candidates.

Source: allAfrica

Vice President Inonge Wina has urged the African Union (AU) to ensure that the gender equality criteria are included in the African Peer Review Mechanism in order for governments to adhere to commitments made during conferences.