Friday, July 24, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Women in Politics
SIERRA LEONE: Caught Between Leaving the Kitchen and Putting Food on the Table
When Iyesha Josiah told people last year that after the August 2007 general elections, she would stand before them as a new member of parliament for Sierra Leone, they thought she was joking.AFRICA: “If You Want More Development, Include Women in Decision-making”
The '8th Triennial Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting' (8WAMM) has closed with an acknowledgement that gender equality is central to democracy, peace and economic growth; ministers also called for greater efforts to achieve parity between men and women.BURKINA FASO: Giving Political Parties a Legal Nudge
Awareness raising alone hasn't managed to bring about sufficient change...Perhaps quotas are now required. That's the thinking behind a law that will be put before Burkina Faso's parliament later this year, in an effort to increase the number of women in decision-making posts in the West African country's government.POLITICS-BENIN: A Drubbing in National Elections Turns Attention to Local Polls
Out of 250 candidates, just a handful triumphed: not an impressive track record by any measure. So, Benin's women are already looking ahead to the next election.POLITICS-MALI: A Presidential Election That Breaks With Tradition
When Malians queue to cast ballots in presidential elections Sunday, they will be participating in a poll with a difference: for the first time ever, a woman will be amongst the candidates voters have to choose between.POLITICS-NIGERIA: Watershed Elections – For Men, That Is
Declarations of no confidence in the electoral commission, threats of an opposition boycott, a key candidate clawing his way back onto the ballot at the last minute...There has been no shortage of political theatre concerning Saturday's milestone elections in Nigeria, or debate on whether the country can successfully hand over power from one civilian government to another for the first time since independence in 1960.NIGERIA: What Have Eight Years of Democracy Done for Women Politicians?
"Men are the decision makers; women should be cooking in the kitchen while men play politics." This is the type of comment that Dorothy Ukel Nyone's male counterparts repeatedly made when she announced her intention to contest a seat in Nigeria's state elections, which got underway Saturday.LESOTHO: Local Elections May Hold the Key to National Success for Women
As Lesotho's newly-elected legislators settle down to the task of governing, activists are expressing disappointment at the low representation of women in the country's parliament.KENYA: Going Beyond “Cheerleading, Singing and Dancing For Candidates”
With general elections scheduled to take place in Kenya this December, activists in the East African country are looking to constitutional reform to ensure that more women fill decision-making posts in government.RIGHTS-KENYA: Politics and Gathering Water Don’t Mix, Say Women Activists
Women in Kenya’s North Eastern Province (NEP) say they will not be able to play a more active role in politics unless concerted efforts are made to provide basic services in the vast and arid region.ELECTIONS-CONGO: A Lending Hand from Women in Belgium
A group of 22 Congolese women living in Belgium will set out to do their bit to support women participating in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the next few months..CHALLENGES 2005-2006: Where Are Malawi’s Women Legislators Now?
More than a year ago, IPS profiled several of the women who had won seats in Malawi's parliament, something that enabled them to break new ground in the drive to make the legislature less of male-dominated forum.« Previous Page
In societies throughout the world, women’s participation in political and leadership roles is limited. Underrepresented as voters and position holders, women are restricted at local and at global levels. A variety of obstacles bar women’s political participation. Reduced access to education in many countries, as well as weaker political connections make it more difficult for women to enter the political stage. In addition, there are many discriminatory laws that severely reduce the opportunity for women to gain leadership positions. As has been seen, there are many individuals who have overcome these obstacles with great success. There have been great strides to increase women’s political participation. In the last 20 years, the percentage of women in parliamentary positions has nearly doubled. This promising, albeit slow progress, is necessary to empower women and reduce gender inequality. These articles look at various aspects of women’s participation politics.
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