Elections
As Serbia gears up for the upcoming elections, the visibility of female candidates is not as strong as in the previous 2020 campaign, as representation in the Serbian Assembly has only slightly increased over the past decade, according to the Academy in Women’s Leadership.
From 2014 to 2023, Serbia’s National Assembly has seen limited progress regarding gender parity, with the share of women working in the legislative house currently hovering at around 35%. Speaking to Euractiv, the Academy of Women’s leadership noted that despite the progress, including within major parties – and even the government – women are often merely viewed as numbers.
“They are subservient to the rule of authoritarian leaders of political parties. So, in both the parliament and the government, they essentially work according to the orders of male state and party leaders. Only in some opposition parties do we have authentic female politicians who have both political influence and the professional strength they bring into politics,” activists from the Academy explained.
Click here to read the full article published by Euroactiv on 11 December 2023.
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BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, a Civil Society Organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of women and girls, has said that about 96 per cent of women, who ran for various positions in the 2023 General Elections, were defeated by their male opponents.
According to the organisation, seven women were elected as deputy governors, four elected for the Senate, 15 for the House of Representatives, while 48 are in state Houses of Assembly.
BAOBAB Programme Director, Anne Lawal, stated this at a Roundtable Strategy Meeting on Women’s Political Participation and Leadership, themed, “The Road to 2027: How can women have a better deal?” yesterday, in Abuja.
According to her, out of 15,307 candidates that contested under the 18 registered political parties, males constituted 13,754, while 1,553 are female.
Click here to read the full article published by The Guardian Nigeria on 8 December 2023.
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It is truly disheartening to observe the glaring absence of female candidates vying for political office in the upcoming general elections. Despite Bangladesh having been led at different times by two women since 1991 besides the years of the caretaker regime, the paltry representation of women remains a stark reminder of the uphill battle for true inclusivity.
The fact that only 128 female candidates are set to contest the election -- which makes it a truly laughable 4.71% of the total 2,713 candidates -- tells us that when it comes to women in politics, we have a long, long way to go.
When women are actively involved in the political sphere, policies are far more likely to address the myriad needs of society. Women bring diverse insights into all issues, from healthcare to education to social welfare; this diverse perspective is crucial for crafting holistic and effective policies that lead to a nation's success. With Bangladesh on the cusp of graduating from a least developed country to a middle-income economy, it is extremely unfortunate that, once again, the nation will be deprived of these perspectives.
Click here to read the full article published by the Dhaka Tribune on 7 December 2023.
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You might have been surprised when the news broke that Mexico — a country historically known for chauvinism — is on the path to elect a woman as president in 2024.
But Xóchitl Gálvez and Claudia Sheinbaum are not aberrations in the country’s political landscape. Mexico’s Congress achieved gender parity in 2018, meaning half of Mexico’s senators and federal deputies are women. Women govern in 10 Mexican states, and President López Obrador’s cabinet is also 50-50 women and men, with women in some of the most prominent positions: Interior Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Security Minister.
In January, the Supreme Court elected its first female chief justice, Norma Piña. Ruling party Morena is again putting forward a woman, Clara Brugada, to run for Mexico City mayor (Sheinbaum was the city’s first female mayor, elected in 2018) in compliance with gender quotas that require parties choose five women as candidates in the nine gubernatorial races of 2024.
Click here to read the full article published by Mexico News Daily on 4 December 2023.
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In what is arguably a significant step forward for women in politics, 2023 saw two important events: the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill, and an increase in women’s participation in the Assembly elections in various states. Not only are more women showing up to vote, but they're also playing a big role in deciding which political parties get support.
What numbers tell us
Women in Madhya Pradesh are leading the charge, showcasing a consistent upward trend in voter turnout — starting at 70.1 per cent in 2013 and climbing to 76.0 per cent in 2023. In Chhattisgarh, the numbers remained relatively stable, fluctuating marginally from 77.3 per cent in 2013 to 76.2 per cent in 2023.
Click here to read the full article published by India Today on 3 December 2023.
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The growth of internet users has brought about social and economic benefits on a global scale. However, significant harms such as online violence, disinformation, and hate speech have also proliferated in these online spaces. Discriminatory gendered practices happening offline, often shaped by social, economic, cultural, and political structures, are similarly reproduced online across digital platforms. Kenya is no exception, as online harassment targets both prominent women and everyday social media users.
Click here to read the full article published by Medium on 21 November 2023.
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