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: The Herald
"Behind every successful man is a woman" goes the old saying. If this is true, as it seems it is, what impact have the African First ladies had on their husbands, who are generally said to have mismanaged Africa

Source: All Africa
The National Gender Machinery said it is working hard to guarantee better performance for women outings in future elections, especially the forthcoming Local Government Elections considered critical in laying

Nigeria

Source: the New Times
First Lady Jeannette Kagame said that Rwandan women play a critical role in the country's healing and reconstruction process.

Rwanda

Source: Daily Trust
PDP presidential aspirant in the April elections, Mrs Sarah Jibril, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint more women in his cabinet.

Nigeria

Source: All Africa
As the battle over appointment of the Supreme Court judges starts details are emerging on why women missed out on the posts.

Kenya

Source: All Africa

Africa's billion citizens are the continent's greatest asset - the potential source of a dynamic workforce and an increasingly compelling consumer market.

Kenya

Source: All Africa

A report released by the Gender Monitoring Office, shows that women massively participated in the just concluded local elections.

Rwanda

Source: All Africa

Kenyan women have a huge task ahead if they are to achieve the basic one-third representation in the next government.

Kenya

Source: All Africa
A gender-sensitive political organization, "Network of Women Politicians" has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to improve on the number of Northern women in the proposed cabinet

Nigeria

Source: All Africa
Concern Universal Tuesday launched a women empowerment project at the governor's bantaba in Mansanjang, Basse, Upper River Region (URR).

Gambia

Source: All Africa
It will be difficult to enforce the requirement that a third of elected officials be women, the interim electoral commission has said.