Democratization and women in Africa- the Progress made…

Ms Bisi Adeleye- Fayemi

 In this article, you shall be introduced to a lecture by Bisi Adeleye- Fayemi, co-founder of the Africa Women Development Fund, AWDF; on the progress made by the African continent in her drive for women empowerment over the decade.

Taking over from where I ended some weeks back, this review of the Public lecture which took place at an event organised by CCD-Ghana will tackle only the progress made in the Africa continents drive for Gender equality.  

In a background, Ms Bisi raised concerns made by the Beijing Platform for Action on the continued under-representation of women in most levels of government in spite of the movement towards democracy everywhere.

She also reflected the inability of not only the African continent, but the world, in meeting the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) target of a 30% inclusion of women in positions of power and decision making. At the heart of her concern was some specific commitments made by African governments on the issue.

She signposted quota systems and affirmative action programs, made by countries and political parties within the continent to reserve 25-50% of elective seats at national local levels for women. This, she stressed has seen countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda make very sterling gains in terms of women’s representation in national affairs.

“The past six years (at the time of her lecture in 2011) have witnessed an acceptance, on the part of several governments, of the need to address women’s empowerment and gender equality”

THE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF THE COMMITMENT

• The African Union adopted the African Protocol on women’s right as well as the solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in 2004

• The founding instrument of the African Union instructs for a 50/50 commitment to gender parity for all organs of the AU

• In 2006, the continent had her first democratically elected female President ( Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sir leaf of Liberia)

• Impressive Parliamentary representations: Rwanda 56% ( first in the world), South Africa 42% ( third in the World), Mozambique 39% ( tenth in the World)- Burundi 36%, and Uganda 31%

Conclusively on her part, in 2011; thirty two years after the passage of the 1979 convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW), eighteen years after the 1993 Vienna Human Rights Conference of 1994, sixteen years after the UN World Conference on Women in Beijing, and over ten years after the Millennium Development Goals were adopted, Africa Women can celebrate the following:

 There is now more awareness of women’ rights and gender equality across communities. There are more acceptances of the need to address discrimination against women in terms of access to education, employment and also the need to prevent violence against women and girls.

 Women have been popularized. It no longer an oddity to see women campaign for topmost positions in public life. The political landscape of nations like South Africa, Rwanda and Liberia has changed, due to the 

impressive parliamentary representation chalked by women.

 Issues of women’s human right are now legally, policy and constitutionally guaranteed and protected.

 The women’s movement have been able to build consensus around key issues of importance to women, such as rights to livelihoods and economic empowerment, access to decision making, reproductive rights and health, non-discrimination and the critical importance of peace. Scholars’ activities, community leaders, writers, thinkers, professionals… and the lot have help create a body of knowledge, thought and activism on women’s right and gender equality.

 The continent by the day is witnessing an outpour of women’s organisations and networks that have been at the forefront of shaping the agenda, and training of many inspiring women leaders on the continent. Some notable organisation in the regard are: African Women’s Communication and Development Network (FEMNET), Abantu for Development, Akina Mama Wa Afrika (AMwA), Women in Law and Development, Africa ( WILDAF), NETRIGHTS ( Ghana), FIDA national platforms, The National Women’s lobby (Malawi), KIND (Nigeria), Forum for Women and Development ( Uganda).

 Avalanche of very inspirational women role models of diverse background inspiring younger generations to greatness. President Sir-Leaf Johnson, Mrs. Graca Machel, Professor Wangari Maathai, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Professor Dora Akunyili, Professor Mamphela Ramphele, Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Mrs Georgina Wood, chief Justice of Ghana, and Justice Joyce Bamford Addo ( Immediate past Ghana’s speaker of Parliament) – Younger ones like the famous writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( Nigeria), Leymah Gbowe (Liberia), Prudence Mabele (South Africa) and several others make it possible showcasing the amazing power of women.

In my next of the review on the Public lecture by Bisi- on Democratization and women in Africa; we delve into the stagnation aspect.

TO BE CONTINUED…