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The recently concluded pilot young women’s empowerment academies on political participation convened by International IDEA through the European Union (EU) funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative provided a space to debunk social gender norms that are barriers to political participation and identifying areas for transformation. The academies are an opportunity for learning, sharing and questioning existing social gender norms whilst providing practical solutions to inclusive democracy.
Young women politicians face a quagmire when they aspire to be politicians. The multilayered barriers they face are a result of how patriarchy is used as a resource in politics to silence women and keep them out of politics.
The framework of Access = Participation + Representation = Transformative has been key in dismantling patriarchy within politics, it is evident that a lot of hurdles still need to be overcome as we celebrate IWD2025. Shockingly, the pilot academies reveal how young women face abuse which is often inclusive of economic abuse as they vie for political positions. The godfather syndrome in politics continues to gnaw its way to power through minimising the role of young women in politics contrary to the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa has a youthful population.
While some male political actors are agents provocateurs in perpetuating patriarchy, there is a growing pool of male advocates who promote young women’s political participation. It was evident from the Southern and Eastern African pilot academies held in February 2025, that political leadership from the party structures needs to be inclusive. The role of the media especially in this digital age is important in transforming social gender norms in politics through increasing women sources in political news, guarding against meritocracy targeted at only women politicians, preventing online violence against women politicians that is technology facilitated and providing a space of solidarity for women politicians.
Acknowledging the contextual background and political environment of young women politicians is important when debunking social gender norms in politics. These social gender norms have ripple effects on how they manifest throughout the ecological model – from individuals, to community, to society and institutions. Whilst the academies acknowledged that transforming social gender norms takes time as it involves changing the mindsets and behaviours of individuals within political institutions, the role of political will accelerates this transformation. Hence, whilst patriarchy is questioning the role of gender quotas in politics, these are a demonstration of political will to correct historic imbalances of power in politics and guard against future inequalities.
The academies pointed out that the state of a country’s politics reflects the existing social gender norms. This is evident in the high levels of violence against women politicians which is a continuum of gender-based violence in a society – a demonstration of power by one gender over another. The young women politicians shared heart wrenching experiences of violence they have faced and continue to face in politics. The intersectionality of this violence with age, disability, socio-economic status, marital status and education amongst others is worrying. With only under five years to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Five (SDG5), many countries require a radical embrace of transformative female leadership.
Read here the full article published by International IDEA on 7 March 2025.
The Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative convened a Southern African Young Women´s Empowerment Academy in Malawi between 11 to 13 February 2025. The Academy focused on promoting additional empowerment strategies for young women to politicians from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, honourable Jean Muonaouza Sendeza opened the Southern Africa Academy for Young Women’s Empowerment. She emphasized that the initiative did not just represent an event but a transformative journey that will shape the future of the region. Through such interventions young women will be able to claim their rightful place in shaping policies that govern us all. By investing in its greatest asset, the potential of its young women together we can build a more inclusive society’. She further thanked the European Union, International IDEA and other WYDE partners for their support in making such an initiative possible.
Michele Crimella, Team Leader for Social Sectors, European Union and Fatma Mohamed Abdelkarim from UN Women Malawi also gave remarks, expressing their support and continued commitment for the young women politicians in their political leadership journey. The European Union Ambassador to Malawi H.E Rune Skinnebach, also attended the event and expressed support to the young women politicians urging them to take gender equality as moral duty and a matter of social justice.
This training of a diverse group engaged participants in discussing strategies to transform traditionally patriarchal political structures into gender-balanced ones. Through the Access=Participation & Representation=Transformation approach, this academy for young women’s empowerment focused on discussing key themes related to gender inclusive political participation. Through capacity development exercises, knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning participants were able to engage with deep-rooted narratives surrounding patriarchal social norms, build networks of building and solidarity and be active advocates for transformative social change. Participants throughout the academy were asked to develop and polish their personal development plans based on the discussions throughout the three days.
MANGWE Rural District Council proportional representation Councillor Simphiwe Vuyelwa Mguni is among the Zimbabwean representatives attending the Southern Africa Academy for Young Women’s Empowerment in Malawi.
The event, which brings together 30 participants from South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Namibia, aims to enhance young women’s leadership and political engagement. Cllr Mguni is representing Zimbabwe alongside Ms Anna Sande and Mrs Tendai Chatikobo.
Her participation marks a major milestone, particularly as she represents a rural community under the Government’s 30 percent women’s quota system at the local government level, which was implemented during the 2023 harmonised elections.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in collaboration with UN Women, is hosting the three-day event, which began on Tuesday and concludes tomorrow.
Read here the full article published by The Chronicle on 12 February 2025.
Image by The Chronicle
India, being the world’s largest democracy, envisions democratic participation as the cornerstone of India’s political system. Democratic decentralization or the grassroot level democracy is deeply embedded in ancient Indian philosophy and traditions.
The 73rd constitutional amendment in India, introduced in 1992 has elevated the concept of inclusive growth through democratic decentralization to a remarkable height.
Throughout Indian history, women have been at the forefront of political participation. Women’s representation in the first Lok Sabha was 5% which was increased to 15% during 2023 Lok Sabha. The Women representation percentage for 2023 Rajya Sabha was 13%. Additionally, Panchayati Raj institutions in India also ensure one-third reservation for female candidates out of the total number of seats. Currently, 20 Indian states have made provision for 50% women’s reservation in state PRIs.
Read here the full article published by Youth Ki Awaaz on 25 January 2025.
Image by Youth Ki Awaaz
Looking back on all of the women that I have met over the years, the oppression, lack of opportunities, and expectations that were placed upon them, all I see is strength—strength passed from mother to daughter. In today’s world, women are defining the rules of the political game and leadership. They are entering the political field as dynamic leaders, demanding and changing the politics of all domains.
Digital platforms have democratized access to political participation, enabling more women to engage actively in political spheres. Through technology, women can express themselves and engage with a relevant communication platform, thus eradicating barriers that have in the past limited women’s political engagement. This is not just a change of political power dynamics, but also a sign that the time has come for women to become masters of the future.
Read here the full article published by The Annapurna Express on 15 January 2025.
Image by The Annapurna Express
In the wake of Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed self-coup on December 3, South Korean citizens took to the streets to protect the country’s democracy, staging a massive protest led by women in their 20s and 30s. The participation of young female K-Pop fans in particular has drawn attention to women’s role in the peaceful protests, while images of Democratic Party spokeswoman Ahn Gwi-Ryeong defiantly grabbing a soldier’s rifle inspired worldwide admiration.
The strong political consciousness of South Korean women is far from a new phenomenon.
Women have historically been at the forefront of resistance and activism, from women-led labor organizing in the 1970s under the Park Chung-hee dictatorship, to the 2016 protests against his daughter, former President Park Geun-hye. Candlelight movements – a repeated form of peaceful protest in South Korea – originated in vigils held in memory of two middle school girls accidentally killed by a U.S. military vehicle in 2002, and gained prominence during the protests against U.S. beef import (largely led by teenage girls) in 2008 and again during the protests leading up to the impeachment of Park in 2016.
Read here the full article published by The Diplomat on 31 December 2024.
Image by The Diplomat