- 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: Thomson Reuters Foundation
NAIROBI - Kenyan activists on Monday welcomed a High Court ruling giving parliament 60 days to ensure a third of lawmakers are women or face dissolution. The ruling follows a lengthy struggle to increase women's political representation in the patriarchal society. Kenya's 2010 constitution guarantees women a third of seats in parliament, but its male-dominated assembly has repeatedly frustrated efforts to pass legislation needed to enact the quota.
Source: allAfrica
Dodoma — FORMER First Lady, Salma Kikwete, made a history in the country's political atmosphere here yesterday when she took oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the United Republic of Tanzania before the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Source: cajnews
As the watershed votes approach in largely sexist Zimbabwe, women are wary of participating because of the violations that peak against females at election time. This is according to findings by a research thinktank ahead of polls set for 2018 when President Robert Mugabe is for the first time set to come up against a female candidate.
Source: Daily Nation
Despite gains made toward gender equality in the country, women still lag behind in political engagement with few men ready to support women in their quest for political leadership, a study has revealed.
Source: Daily Nation
In the 2013 General Election, a notable outcome was that voters decided not to elect any woman to the position of governor in all the 47 counties.
Source: Daily Nation
An attempt by the Senate to increase the number of women in Parliament suffered a blow when Senators opposed to the bill skipped voting.
Source: FPA
The international system in recent years has experienced a new phenomenon and fascinating developments in contemporary politics regarding the rise in women's involvements in political struggles to persistently challenge their male counterparts in an internationally praised democracy process for representation and leadership from one region to another across the globe.
Source: AllAfrica
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's presence has not translated into women rising from the grassroots to be equally represented in decision-making forums in the country, writes Muneinazvo Kujeke, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies.
A lot has been said about Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed’s failed candidature for chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The loss is disappointing, but the lessons learnt are invaluable. Her candidature was strong — so strong that she survived to the final round where political and regional gerrymandering took over.
Source: Government of Ghana
Parliamentary Affairs Minister-designate, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has called for an effective collaboration between various political parties in country to ensure the 30 percent women representation in Parliament as set by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The Africa Ministerial Pre-Consultative Meeting convened in Addis Ababa to prepare for the upcoming 61st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) concluded successfully with a unified Africa position, “One Africa One Voice”.