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Political party representatives were put in the hot seat during IOL’s Elections Panel Discussion on Wednesday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in uMhlanga when asked why there are fewer women in politics, especially in leadership positions.
The question was posed by an audience member who was clad in an African National Congress (ANC) scarf after the panellists had finished with their statements.
This elicited various responses from the politicians. Here is what they had to say:
Chris Pappas
Strange question to come from a person whose provincial and national leaders are men, but nonetheless. All political parties have the obligation to ensure that we have diversity across all categories, whether it be gender, religion, education status, race or whatever it may be.
Thami Ntuli – Inkatha Freedom Party premier candidate:
As the IFP we are striving to empower women. We have women in the party who participate in Parliament and the local government. The mayor of uMlalazi is a woman. They are empowered through these positions. We believe in them.
Read here the full article published by IOL News on 25 April 2024.
Image by IOL News
The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) chose Tomoko Tamura as its first-ever female leader Thursday, apparently in the hope of broadening its support base and attracting a wider array of voters.
Upper House member Tamura, 58, takes over the chair of the 102-year-old political party — Japan’s oldest — from 69-year-old Kazuo Shii, who had served in the position since 2000 and was the longest-serving head of a major Japanese political party. The decision was made on the final day of the party’s congress in the city of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Also Thursday, Shii was appointed chair of the JCP’s central committee, a key policy-making body, where he will continue to have a strong influence over the party’s direction.
Click here to read the full article published by The Japan Times on 18 January 2024.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday presented its slate of 18 female legislator-at-large nominees and outlined its policies on gender equality.
The DPP has marked several milestones when it comes to women’s participation in Taiwanese politics, DPP Department of Gender Equality division director Lee Yen-jong (李晏榕) told a news conference at party headquarters in Taipei.
It was the first party in Taiwan to have a female vice president in Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), who assumed office in 2000, Lee said, adding that Lu also became the first female commissioner for then-Taoyuan County in 1997.
Click here to read the full article published by the Taipei Times on 1 December 2023.
Why do women continue to be under-represented in politics? The causes of this democratic deficit are well-studied, with women’s under-representation (and men’s over-representation) a combination of who comes forward for office and what obstacles are placed in their path.
Much popular and academic discussion around why women might not come forward has centred on political ambition—their interest in running for, and holding, elected office.
Click here to read the full article published by Social Europe on 27 October 2023.
The Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 21st September and became law on 29th September with the approval of the President of India. The new bill, officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, aims to increase the presence of women in Parliament and state legislatures by assigning 33% of seats to women. However, the one hundred and twenty-eighth Constitution Amendment Bill can only be implemented after the next census and the following electoral delimitation process.
Click here to read the full article published by the Financial Express on 25 October 2023.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Political parties wax eloquently about women’s rights, but when it comes to giving tickets in the assembly elections, they fail to walk the talk. This time, with the passing of the Women’s Bill in Parliament, many had expected that more women would be given tickets. However, so far, both Congress and BJP have disappointed the women.
Click here to read the full article published by Free Press Journal on 17 October 2023.