- 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: NIGERIAN Tribune
President Goodluck Jonathan has again stated that his promise made on the 35 per cent representation of women in governance will be fulfilled.
Source: Al Jazeera
A new ruling guarantees Tunisian women a place in the country's new political landscape [GALLO/GETTY]
Tunisia's ruling that men and women must feature in equal numbers as candidates in July polls is an Arab world first that builds on this year's revolt and allays fears of conservative influence, observers say.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, is on a mission to empower a generation, one woman at a time. As the founder and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, a grassroots NGO, Nana Rawlings is a firm believer that women hold the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Source: The Atlanta Post
For the first time in the history of Egypt, a woman is running for president. Buthayna Kamel, a 49-year-old talk show host, has announced her candidacy for the presidential election that will be held later this year.
Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is expected to soon ratify amendments to four laws presumably intended to create a more competitive and transparent political climate in Egypt.
Source: THE HERALD
WOMEN attending the international conference on economic and political empowerment and peace building in Harare have backed the quota system that enables them to take up decision making positions.Globally women have been living on the periphery of the political, economic and social landscape but with changing times they gradually began to claim their stake in the important positions in their respective countries. Speaking on political empowerment during a plenary session, at the on-going conference yesterday, Mrs Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu, a gender activist, said many countries have increased women's participation in decision-making positions. This, she said, was done through implementation of the quota system.
SOURCE: Pambazuka
To what extent do South Africa's municipal participation mechanisms enable meaningful engagement in development planning and local governance by poor or marginalised women? What interventions or alternative approaches are required? This article finds a disconnect between women's experience and knowledge and state policy and programmatic responses. It proposes two, formally linked, strategies to address this problem: 1) the creation of women-only forums, supported by training, to enable women to develop recommendations; and 2) the input of those recommendations into formal participation structures and processes.
Activists say women, who make up more than half of the population, need more than 25% of official positions.
Source: IPS
As Nigeria tries again to begin its staggered general elections on Apr. 9, spare a thought for the women who will be putting themselves forward as candidates in an overwhelmingly male field.
Source: IPS
Martha Karua fears nothing and no one, and when her adversaries look back at her long track record in politics, they must get nervous. This previously staunch supporter of Mwai Kibaki resigned as justice minister in 2009, and will challenge all comers for the presidency at the head of her own party next year.
THAT women got only 96 out of 1531 elective positions available in the 2007 elections in Nigeria in 2007 is a big concern to major international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).