ticipation will also allow women to make a meaningful impact on democracy, and to sustain the effort for the empowerment and representation of women.


A GLOBAL OVERVIEW Te low political participation by women is not limited to Africa; it is global, with the Nordic countries being among the no- table exceptions. Today, out of 192 United Nations Member States, there are only 18 women, either elected or appointed, in the highest positions of government. Tat figure inched up by one with the election, (in November 2010), of Dilma Rousseff as the first female Head of State of Brazil. She will preside over the largest country in Latin America, with a population of over 192m, 45% of which are people of African descent. We welcome her to our tiny circle. Te world applauds Rwanda as having


the highest number of women parliamen- tarians, at 56.3%, followed by Sweden, at 47%. Rwanda succeeded by implementing a gender quota system. With a population of 70% female following the 1994 geno- cide, women had to assume traditional male roles. Able, finally, to participate in the draſting of a new constitution and new legislative structures, they pushed for greater equality in politics through such initiatives as a constitutional quota and election law quotas to ensure women’s place at the political table. Rwanda serves as a case study, an example for other coun- tries seeking a more equal representation of women in politics. Let us also recognise South Africa,


which leapt from 17th to 3rd place, behind Rwanda and Sweden, in the global rank- ing. Tat country has experienced an 11% increase in women’s political representa- tion, from 34% to 45%. Prior to democratic elections held there in 1994, there were only 2.7% of women in the South African Parlia- ment; the figure increased to 27% following the elections and has been growing ever since. We applaud the enlightened male leaders who played key roles in this success. I am proud to be the first democrati-


cally elected female President in Africa. It is my fervent hope, and prayer, that what I accomplished will not be a one-off; that a woman running for president in Africa will become the norm, not the exception, for many more women across our conti- nent. I continue to be encouraged by the women with whom I interact across Africa. Tey see in my presidency a validation of something they have always believed, that


“It is possible. We can make it happen.” It is my great privilege to be a source of in- spiration to you, the women of Africa, with aspirations to occupy the highest political positions in the land. Africa needs more daring women to step forward. Africa, which had the lowest female


participation in politics in the 1960s, is today seeing the fastest rates of growth of women in politics. A comparative analy- sis with other parts of the world would conclude that some African countries are doing relatively well, although none come close to proportionately represent- ing women – Rwanda, again, being the exception. Women have made important strides in terms of political participation and their rise to top-level economic and political management portfolios, but there is still a huge gender gap worldwide, and a long way to go.


CHALLENGES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA Despite the advances I have cited, women have yet to see enormous payoffs in being elected into office and receiving politi- cal appointments. An important reason is that women oſten lack the resources, political experience, education and politi- cal connections to run for office. Popular perceptions are that a woman’s place is in the home, and in the kitchen, rather than in politics and corporate boardrooms. Cul- tural attitudes which constrain women’s involvement in politics persist among men and women. Tese are oſtentimes reflected in voting patterns, media coverage of fe- male politicians, as well as attempts to sup- press women’s assertion of their political rights and views. Such attitudes are not helped by the fact


that women themselves are many times reluctant to run for office, stemming from cultural prohibitions on women being seen and speaking in public in front of men or challenging them. Where these prohibitions are strong, men do not listen to women who take the podium or are ac- tive in politics. Campaigning and being a leader of-


ten involves travel and time away from home, all of which put women politicians at risk and at a disadvantage due to gen- der bias. Would-be female politicians may find themselves and their families under attack or the subject of malicious gossip. Some husbands forbid their wives from engaging in politics, fearing that they will interact with other men, or worrying that their spouse’s political preoccupations


will divert her attention from the home. How, then, can we address and overcome the hurdles placed in women’s path to- wards political participation and repre- sentation? It is one thing to legislate that women be represented at all decision-mak- ing levels; it is quite another to change the attitudes and mind-set of those who would obstruct that access. With men making up the other half of the world’s 6.8bn people, it is imperative that we reach out to them if we are to succeed in our overall goals and objectives. We have to work harder.


“Africa’s history... shows the incredible potential of women to persevere, to lead, to resolve conflict, and to move a country from chaos onto the path of social and economic development”


AFRICA’S FUTURE: ITS WOMEN Africa faces many challenges, all of them highlighted in the Millennium Devel- opment Goals – poverty, high illiteracy, sexual violence, high infant and maternal mortality rates, HIV/Aids, the effects of climate change, and a litany of other woes. In such a landscape, let us not make the mistake of not harnessing the potential of one-half of Africa’s population – its women. Africa’s history is replete with incidences of the marginalisation and exclusion of women. Tat history likewise shows the incredible potential of women to persevere, to lead, to resolve conflict, and to move a country from chaos onto the path of social and economic development. I think it is prophetic that, less than a


week aſter a speech in the United States about ‘Africa and Its Place in the World’, I am here discussing a related topic. I told the audience in Richmond, Virginia, that despite significant gains, much remains to be done about the place of women in African society, and that Africa’s future as an engine of global economic growth will be directly linked to the status of women on the continent. Tere is no doubt in my mind that women are the future of Africa, and its leaders must invest in women’s development if they want their country, and our continent, to advance in the 21st century and beyond.


WINTER 2011 | NEW AFRICAN WOMAN | 43


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