Women's Leadership

The global report on Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA) report provides an overview of key trends and analysis on women’s participation and leadership in public administration, based on evidence from UNDP and the University of Pittsburgh’s ground-breaking GEPA database. The first comprehensive in-depth research into the issue covering 170 countries, finds that though there has been progress on women’s representation overall in public administration, persistent gaps remain. Women continue to hit a glass ceiling and glass walls that stop them from advancing to positions at the highest levels of power and influence, including in the COVID-19 response. The report provides practical recommendations to help shatter these glass ceilings and glass walls and to reimagine and redesign more gender inclusive and diverse public administrations.

Source: UNDP

"I take note of the public commitments made by the Taliban’s spokesperson to uphold women’s rights “within the framework of Islam”, including women’s right to work, to pursue higher education and to have an active role in society, as well as the right of girls to attend school. The immediate inclusion of women in the governance structure of the new leadership in Afghanistan will be the ultimate litmus test for the Taliban," stated Ms. Patten.

The full and complete development of Afghanistan and the cause of peace require the equal and meaningful participation of women in all fields including public and political life. Women’s full participation is essential not only for their empowerment but also for the advancement of society as a whole. The Taliban leadership must take bold steps to fully include women in decision-making at all levels, both nationally and internationally, so that they may continue to make their contribution to the goals of equality, development and peace.

The supreme law of Afghanistan, its Constitution adopted in 2004, includes clear provisions on the equal rights of all citizens including women’s participation in the political life of the country. Afghanistan also ratified, without reservation, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and adopted, in 2015, a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to ensure the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1325. These commitments are binding and must be acted upon immediately.

"As Afghanistan embarks on building a new future, I call on the Taliban leadership to: (1) reaffirm their commitment to comply with constitutional provisions and international treaties which guarantee equality to all citizens; (2) guarantee the full and equal participation of women in the political and decision-making processes; (3) ensure women are protected from gender-based threats and attacks, which violate their rights and impede their effective participation; and (4) reaffirm the aim of achieving broad representation in public life, by ensuring women have full equality in the exercise of political and economic power," said Ms. Patten.

"Further to the United Nations Security Council resolution adopted yesterday, 30 August, reaffirming the importance of upholding human rights, including the rights of women, and encouraging all parties to seek an inclusive, negotiated political settlement that ensures the full, equal and meaningful representation of women, I call on the international community to sustain its attention and action to ensure women’s rights are non-negotiable," added Ms. Patten.

Afghan women’s rights activists have fought for their rights and have made considerable progress. These hard-won gains cannot be reversed or rolled back. The inclusion of women in the governance architecture will be the litmus test for the new political leadership of Afghanistan. Urgent action is needed now to ensure the full participation of women in the public and political life of Afghanistan.

Source: UN Women

The Taliban have taken over Afghanistan, but there are still forces of opposition attempting to maintain human rights in the country. Many Afghan political leaders, including former president Ashraf Ghani, fled the country, but several female politicians stayed to resist the Taliban on the ground.

"My dear homeland, I know you are suffering and in pain," Zarifa Ghafari, one of Afghanistan's first woman mayors, tweeted on Aug. 14. "... your real children who are looking to build you are very hard but with full courage trying to pull you out of these bad days."

Women bureaucrats like Ghafari are risking their lives and freedom to not only save their country and people — but to maintain the the rights of women and girls. When the Taliban previously held power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women and girls were denied basic rights, including the ability to learn, work or travel.

The Taliban have promised to respect women's rights and to recruit women to join the new government, but many remain skeptical. There have already been reports of Afghan women being forced to marry fighters and being publicly flogged. In Herat, female members of parliament had their houses searched and their cars taken away.

Click here to read the full article published by NPR on 18 August 2021.

With less than a decade to go to 2030, the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, women constitute just 11% of MPs and 18% of councillors in Botswana: well below the gender parity target and among the lowest proportions in Southern Africa.

This situation analysis of WPP in Botswana is part of the consortium's work and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of women's participation in political decision making at all levels, including in political parties, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the media.

Accelerating women representation in political decision making requires an inter-sectional approach involving government, civil society, the media, academia, the private sector, youth and men. The upcoming Constitutional Review- the first since independence in 1966 - provides a unique opportunity to re-write herstory in Botswana; review the electoral system with a gender lens, and adopt the special measures that have proven necessary in every country in the world that has succeeded in increasing WPP. The time is indeed now!

Click here to access the analysis.

New York will get their first female governor after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned over sexual harassment allegations. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over running the state. NBC News’ Allison Morris reports on Hochul’s career. 

Source: NBC News

Kathy Hochul will take Andrew M. Cuomo’s place as governor of New York State once his resignation goes into effect in 14 days.

Ms. Hochul, New York State’s lieutenant governor, will become the first woman to lead New York State.

“I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to step down,’’ Ms. Hochul said in a statement. “It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers. As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State’s 57th Governor.”

Though she has served on Mr. Cuomo’s team since the 2014 election, Ms. Hochul has largely been cut off from his inner circle. She and Mr. Cuomo have not spoken since February, a senior official told The New York Times earlier this week.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, Mr. Cuomo expressed confidence in Ms. Hochul’s ability to govern as the state shoulders through the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic.

Click here to read the full article published by The New York Times on 10 August 2021.