Primer Africa’s Post

Case Presentation: Women's Rights Violations in Malawi's Political Space Title: Breaking the Silence: Confronting Sexism and Misogyny in Malawi's Politics Introduction: Welcome, esteemed audience. Today, we present a disturbing case that highlights the pervasive sexism and misogyny women face in Malawi's political landscape. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the human rights violations women endure, and the need for collective action to promote gender equality. Case Summary: During a political rally in Malawi, a politician publicly humiliated women by: 1. Displaying a woman's underwear 2. Smearing tomato sauce on it to mock menstruation 3. Declaring that a menstruating woman cannot lead Shockingly, some women in attendance supported this vile display, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Key Issues: 1. Cultural and Traditional Bias: Entrenched patriarchal attitudes exclude women from decision-making positions. 2. Violence and Harassment: Sexism, harassment, and violence against women are common in Malawi's politics. 3. Limited Access to Education and Economic Empowerment: Women's lower literacy, education, and economic empowerment hinder their political participation. Consequences: 1. Disempowerment: Women's exclusion from politics perpetuates inequality. 2. Normalization of Misogyny: Such incidents reinforce harmful attitudes, silencing women's voices. 3. Undermining Democracy: Sexism undermines the integrity of Malawi's democratic processes. Reflection Questions: 1. How can we challenge and change harmful cultural attitudes? 2. What role can education and economic empowerment play in promoting women's leadership? 3. How can we hold perpetrators of sexism and misogyny accountable? Call to Action: Join us in: 1. Advocating for women's rights and empowerment. 2. Supporting initiatives promoting gender equality in politics. 3. Reporting incidents of sexism, harassment, and violence against women. Conclusion: This case serves as a wake-up call to confront the systemic barriers women face in Malawi's politics. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society where women's voices are valued and respected. Recommended Actions: 1. Engage with organizations like Pamudzi Pathu Initiatives. 2. Support women's leadership development programs. 3. Advocate for policy changes promoting gender equality. Contact: Francis Maxwell Ross, Pamudzi Pathu Initiatives Francisross@pamudzipathu.org +265992535083

New Center for Global Development blog post with Astha M. and Mayra Buvinic We look at historical and structural factors + proximate facilitating conditions to characterize enabling environments for the emergence of #WomenPoliticalLeaders. Two key takeaways: 1) Context matters for women’s political leadership. While individual women can have strong leadership potential, establishing an appropriate environment provides a platform for widespread improvements in women’s political representation. We cannot expect broad increases in women’s political leadership without there being systemic changes. 2) Increasing women’s political leadership is not enough to spur gender equality more broadly. Levels of women’s economic participation have not mirrored levels of women’s political empowerment globally, pointing to a disconnect between women’s political leadership and women’s economic inclusion. Evidently, political leaders must intentionally translate structural and proximate changes into opportunities for women’s empowerment. The rising number of women political leaders provides an opening for policy engagement to increase the adoption of evidence-based approaches to promote women’s economic empowerment and advance gender equality, ultimately improving countries’ economic wellbeing.  Read more here:

Ipas Africa Alliance, through the Call for Local Initiatives (CFLI) project funded by Global Affairs Canada, conducted a review to understand the status of gender equity in Meru County and identify the gaps, challenges and underlying factors, as a pathway towards enhancing gender justice in the county. Long-held cultural beliefs are barriers, not boundaries. They should never stand in the way of leadership potential. We call upon #GenderAdvocates to empower women and girls to rise above these obstacles and take their place in leadership roles. As we work towards shifting #gender norms, it's time to dismantle the stereotypes and unlock the leadership potential of women. It is important break barriers and foster a culture of inclusivity and equality. #MeruWomen #Empowerment #LeadershipDevelopment #GenderEquality #CulturalChange #SocialJustice #BreakTheStereotypes CREAWKenya Wangu Kanja Foundation United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung | Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network Angela Akol, MD, PhD Anu Kumar Ipas UN Women Reproductive Health Network Kenya Read more about our work in Meru County here: https://lnkd.in/dBd8Qkrj

Women’s representation in Nigerian politics remains notably low compared to global averages. Despite progress in some areas, the landscape remains heavily skewed, with significant barriers preventing women from access and succeeding in political roles. These barriers, deeply embedded within Nigeria’s socio-cultural, economic, and political frameworks, reflect long-standing challenges that hinder gender equality and prevent an inclusive governance system. This article examines these barriers and proposes strategies to enhance women’s participation in Nigerian politics.

Really interesting article on the factors that have enabled women leaders to rise to greater power in some places - and of course, the factors holding them back elsewhere. The good news: greater gender equality in power is possible. "Women political leaders emerge through a combination of historical and structural factors, along with proximate facilitating conditions. ...establishing an appropriate environment provides a platform for widespread improvements in women’s political representation." But a sobering note: "... increasing women’s political leadership is not sufficient to spur gender equality more broadly... political leaders must intentionally translate structural and proximate changes into opportunities for women’s empowerment." Still more to do. But change is possible - because it's happened, and is continuing to happen. https://lnkd.in/em-iiS-r

As stakeholders gather at the Commission on the Status of Women to discuss the urgent need to invest in women and girls, we want to highlight that currently data to track these investments and their impact is a mess. Addressing this data gap needs to be a part of the discussion on ‘strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.   Read more here on our proposal for fixing gender funding data: https://lnkd.in/ehG5P5ji   #csw68 #GenderEquality #UnderstandingImpact #InvestInWomen Hellen Malinga Apila Mareen Buschmann Fionna Smyth

🤔 Do women and men have equal rights? While many advocate for equality between men and women, the reality paints a different picture. On this International Women's Day, let's reflect on ten statistics that underscore why gender disparity still exists globally: 1️⃣ On average, women earn approximately 20% less than men for the same work (Source: International Labour Organization). 2️⃣ Only 24% of parliamentarians worldwide are women (Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union). 3️⃣ Women represent 70% of the world's population living in poverty (Source: World Bank). 4️⃣ Globally, women spend about 2.5 times more time on unpaid work than men (Source: International Labour Organization). 5️⃣ Only 5% of women worldwide hold CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies (Source: Catalyst). 6️⃣ Women have significantly less access to education compared to men in many regions of the world (Source: UNESCO). 7️⃣ Women account for 70% of human trafficking victims globally (Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). 8️⃣ Women have less access to sexual and reproductive health services compared to men (Source: World Health Organization). 9️⃣ Women face a higher likelihood of being victims of domestic and gender-based violence compared to men (Source: UN Women). 1️⃣0️⃣ Only 30% of researchers globally are women (Source: UNESCO). These statistics remind us that achieving gender equality remains an ongoing challenge. Let's use this day to reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive. #InternationalWomensDay #GenderEquality #IWD2024 #investinwomen

The historical record of gender disparities in politics underscores a pressing need for transformative change. Cultural stereotypes and patriarchal structures still sideline women in Africa and beyond. The clamor for equality reflects a collective determination to challenge ingrained norms, recognizing that true progress requires breaking free from the chains of discrimination and marginalization. #WomenInPolitics #GenderEquality #InclusiveGovernance #SustainableDevelopment #InternationalWomensDay #BreakTheBias https://lnkd.in/e3WkJrGE

It's high time we shifted the conversation from mere representation to meaningful impact. Female leaders must leverage their influence to drive policy changes that address the systemic barriers hindering gender equality. Let's focus on tangible outcomes, not just symbolic gestures. The future of gender equality depends on it. #GenderEquality #PolicyReform #WomenInLeadership #EconomicEmpowerment #UNWomen #TVCNews #WomenInPolitics #FemaleLeadership #LeadershipMatters https://lnkd.in/epQqGZgz

The call for inclusion of rural women in governance and politics by Mrs. Olabisi Ogedengbe highlights the importance of amplifying the voices and perspectives of marginalized groups in decision-making processes. Rural women often face multifaceted challenges in accessing political and leadership positions, including socio-cultural barriers, limited access to education and resources, and entrenched gender stereotypes. However, their participation is crucial for fostering inclusive and representative governance that addresses the diverse needs and priorities of communities. Efforts to empower rural women politically not only enhance gender equality but also contribute to more effective and sustainable development outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative to create enabling environments and opportunities for rural women to engage in political processes, access leadership roles, and contribute their valuable insights to shaping inclusive policies and programs. #RuralWomenEmpowerment #InclusiveGovernance #GenderEquality #PoliticalParticipation #SustainableDevelopment https://lnkd.in/eRS393BQ