Gender-based civil society organisations (CSOs) have described the use of Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) to silence and discourage women from seeking or holding positions of influence as a threat to equal and meaningful participation.
According to them, women in public life, human rights defenders and peacebuilders, among others, played essential roles in advancing the gender equality agenda.At
a meeting organised by the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre (Gender Centre) in Accra, which brought together women's rights organisations, they called on stakeholders to work together to address TFGBV in the country and beyond.
Activists and lawyers in Africa are calling for urgent action to protect women, girls and boys as digital violence surges across the continent.
A massive rise in internet users, coupled with huge numbers of people aged under 30, has fuelled an increase in gendered online violence across the continent, according to experts, by giving perpetrators new tools to control and silence women and girls, and influence boys.
“Unfortunately the world offline is not safe, equal and inclusive. But the world online is proliferating that to such an extent that it’s creating a foundation for a very, very unequal future,” said Ayesha Mago, global advocacy director at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, a global network that supports research on violence against women and children in low- and middle-income countries.
The recent Grok scandal saw an avalanche of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes of women and girls created and shared directly on X, following the rollout of Grok’s picture-editing capabilities in late December 2025.
This provided a crucial opportunity to test the effectiveness of the existing EU legislative framework to prevent and address non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigations into X were opened almost immediately under both the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). At the same time, calls for additional safeguards and protections under EU law echoed across the Union, leading to the European Parliament and the European Council remarkably coming together to introduce a ban on such practices under the AI Act and pushing for additional restrictions against a rising tide of deregulation.
In a recent brief, the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe explored the merits and gaps of existing legislation to address this issue. Building on that analysis, we reflect on the existing safeguards, the opportunities, and the challenges that a new ban under the AI Act would need to overcome.
On 16 March, the Delegation of the European Union to China hosted the event “Her Vision, Our Future: Women Pioneering Change” in Beijing, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, academics, civil society representatives and members of the international community to reflect on women’s leadership in climate action and political decision-making.
Held in the context of International Women’s Day, the event gathered around one hundred participants and featured two thematic sessions exploring how women’s leadership is shaping responses to some of today’s most pressing global challenges — from the green transition to democratic governance.
Opening the event, Ambassador Jorge Toledo, Head of the European Union Delegation to China, emphasised that gender equality remains both a democratic imperative and a practical necessity for effective policymaking. “Gender equality is not a secondary issue,” he said. “It is a question of how societies organise power, participation and opportunity. When women are present where decisions are made, policies become more responsive, institutions gain legitimacy, and societies become stronger.” Ambassador Toledo also welcomed the strong Chinese presence among the participants, noting that it reflected growing interest in these questions within China itself. “Your presence here today tells us that this topic resonates,” he said. “It tells us that the conversation about women’s leadership — about participation, voice and opportunity — matters.”
The Head of the Beijing UN Women Office, Chuqiao Wang, also offered a plenary framing intervention.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) convened the WYDE Women’s Leadership Young Women’s Empowerment Academy in ECOWAS which brought together 25 young women aspiring or emerging political/community leaders, interested in standing for elective positions and elected young women officials pursuing political and leadership skills strengthening.
The Academy was convened within the framework of the European Union (EU)-funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative, implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), under the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women.
Over three days, participants expressed the enhancement of their understanding of democratic processes, gender norms and social norms intersectionality with young women’s participation and representation in politics, leadership and decision making at all levels, transformative leadership, violence against women manifests in political spaces, highlighting both the personal and structural dimensions of the problem, the critical role of digital media in shaping women’s leadership, visibility, and influence in politics, emphasizing that in today’s world, digital presence is inseparable from political presence and personal development. The Academy created a space where participants felt safe to reassess their political experiences and journeys in politics, countering stereotypes and practices and redefining their place and positioning in political and public life. As one participant expressed:
“The Academy has been a real space for awareness and progress. It allowed me to understand how my own social patterns influence my decisions and to identify concrete levers to evolve in my leadership.” - Amy Top, President of ASC Entente and Leader of the Cap sur l’Avenir Movement, Senegal.
A key outcome of the Academy was a shift in how participants understood gender social norms.
"Gender social norms are not just attitudes or traditions; they are powerful unwritten rules that shape opportunities, access and participation for women and men. Meaningful change requires shifting mindsets, engaging communities, and creating environments where women can exercise their rights.” - Rhoda Daniels Sanda, founder Guardian of Hope initiative, State Coordinator Researved Seat for Women Bill, Nigeria.
They recognized norms as transformable through personal agency: “As a young female leader, the Academy has helped me understand that social gender norms are much more than cultural habits: they are silent mechanisms that determine who has the right to exist, decide and influence. I realized that changing these norms does not start with speeches, but with example.” - Diaretou Mangane, National President of the Young Women's Wing, Liberal Democratic Reformers, Senegal.
Overall, participants moved from seeing gender norms as abstract societal rules to recognizing them as systemic societal prescriptions, actionable constructs they can challenge individually, collectively, and institutionally. By the end of the Academy, the most significant transformations were visible not only in what participants learned, but in how they saw themselves — as political actors, as norm-shapers, and as leaders capable of influencing institutions and communities.
Picture 1: This “leadership cloud” captured the strength and diversity of the group of participants, creating an immediate sense of community and grounding the Academy in a shared belief: leadership begins with identity and self-definition, not with a title.
The illustrative/evident indicator of transformation lies in the precision and ambition of participants’ final commitments. These commitments demonstrate how the Academy translated new awareness, confidence, and technical knowledge into concrete leadership trajectories at the individual, community, and political levels.
Individual Leadership Commitments: Many participants committed to deepening their personal leadership, strengthening their technical expertise, and increasing their visibility as a foundation for broader influence.
Building technical and strategic capacity: “At the end of this training, I intend to transform my commitment into an operational political force by radically strengthening my leadership. I will specialize in education-sector budget management, curriculum reform, and school law to become a recognised reference. My goal is clear: to build the credibility needed to join Parliament or the Department of Education so I can influence laws and funding for lasting change.” — Adjaratou Seydou, Coordinator of Mon Choix Ma Carrière, Country Head for Young Women of Africa, Togo.
Developing inclusive and reflective leadership styles: “This Academy helped me better understand how certain social norms influenced my expectations, my choices, and sometimes my ways of collaborating. I want to adopt a more conscious and intentional posture: asking more questions, listening before deciding, and making sure my practices do not unconsciously reproduce inequalities.” — Amy Top, President of ASC Entente and Leader of the Cap sur l’Avenir Movement, Senegal.
Personal growth and self-positioning: “Instead of being just a woman engaged in politics, I want to become a force that paves the way for others.” — Aysat Aguda, Woman Leader of the Social Democratic Party, Nigeria.
“After this Academy, I plan to make a major shift in my leadership journey: moving from intuitive engagement to a more structured, strategic, and impact-driven approach. I want to strengthen my presence in decision-making spaces, use my voice more effectively, and mobilize more women around civic action and transformative leadership.” — Aïssata Dieng, Community leader, Ivory Coast
Community-Level Commitments Participants increasingly viewed leadership as service and committed to extending the Academy’s impact through mentorship, advocacy, and community empowerment.
Mentorship and the multiplier effect: “I want to shift from individual leadership to multiplier leadership. Instead of being the only woman engaged in politics, I want to open the way for others. I will mentor, coach, and mobilize more young women around me to take part in public decision-making.” — Boye Baby, Member of Parliament, Senegal.
Advocacy, education, and youth empowerment “I will advocate for the monthly inclusion of senior high schools in sanitary pad distribution programmes and renovate a community school in my hometown.” — Mabel Obeng, Young Women of Africa Country Leader, Ghana.
“I want to strengthen my leadership to influence public policies in energy, infrastructure, and STEM education. I will create training hubs for young women, expand STEM clubs across West Africa, and build a network of mentors.” — Winner Fandoumi, National President, AIP-JEUNES, Togo.
Inclusive decision-making and participatory governance “I want to launch awareness campaigns and training to encourage women to take leadership positions within political parties and public institutions, challenging the idea that leadership is reserved for men.” — Gertrude Nadia Sena Dossa, Deputy Mayor, Benin.
“My goal is to create participatory mechanisms where the less privileged — especially women and girls — have a voice in decision-making. I will organize and guide communities to inspire collective action.” — Aisha Kabir, Peace builder and community development officer, Nigeria.
Political and Institutional Commitments Several participants left the Academy with renewed determination to enter or advance within formal political structures and influence policy directly.
Running for office and leadership positions “I will run for the secretary position of my political party at ward level.” — Nerat Yakubu Gyang, Welfare director faculty of social sciences students’ union, University of Jos, Nigeria.
“I will write an official letter to the party chairman to express my interest in serving on the executive committee of the women’s wing.” — Laura Targbeh Korvah, President - National Young Women Political Council of Liberia (NYWPCL). Regional Coordinator -Board of the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Liberia.
“I will contest the National Students Union presidency in Ghana again — and this time win. There has never been a female president.” — Mabel Obeng, Young Women of Africa Country Leader, Ghana.
Transitioning from activism to political influence “I will advocate within my political party for more inclusive structures — including women’s reserved seats and gender-balanced committees — to ensure women are not only present but actively contributing.” — Rhoda Daniels Sanda, founder Guardian of Hope initiative, State Coordinator Researved Seat for Women Bill, Nigeria.
“Having had no previous political involvement, I have decided to join the youth league of a political party to gain a platform for concrete action.” — Monica Van Gabriella Boulanga-Moughola, Legal Officer and Youth Leadership Advocate, Gabon.
The Academy is already supporting these ambitions by enabling participants to build mutual accountability systems and peer networks. As Nerat Yakubu Gyang explained, “I have reached out to some co-participants from the Academy to become my accountability partners so I can implement my plan.” This spirit of solidarity and the concrete commitments above capture the Academy’s long-term impact. As Boye Baby, Parliamentarian from Senegal, reflected: “Eventually, they realise: ‘she is not going anywhere’ — and then they start to support you.”
Booth-level campaign by the DMK women’s wing at Ramachandra Nagar in Tiruchi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY
On a humid afternoon in Ramachandra Nagar in Tiruchi West constituency, a small group of women knock on doors carrying cloth bags filled with booklets — part campaign material, part household diary. But this is not a routine political visit.
When residents scan a QR code inside the booklet, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appears on their phone screens through augmented reality, seemingly addressing them from their living room.
DMK women’s grassroots push blends politics with AR outreach
‘Vellum Tamil Pengal’ campaign deploys booth-level women cadres armed with booklets, QR codes and augmented reality to deepen voter connect — while opening new space for women in party politics.
Plan International Australia, in collaboration with YouGov, conducted a poll with a representative online sample of 1,034 Australian young women aged between 18 and 24 to gauge their views on the culture and diversity of representation in Australian politics. Around 26% of respondents identified as being from a Culturally and Linguistically diverse (CALD) background, around 24% identified as LGBTQI+ and around 14% identified as having a disability. The theoretical margin of error on a sample of this size is ±3.05 percentage points. Due to rounding, totals for results may not add to 100.
Young people care – about our planet, our future and our political systems. In the last decade, young people have initiated social movements, tackling issues that impact their own lives and those of communities around the globe. They have done so with hope and optimism about the future, at a time when we face extreme challenges. In a world where global conflict, climate change and socio-economic issues are becoming ever more acute, we need young people’s fresh perspectives to guide political decision-making.
This report aims to outline how and why young people engage in political decision- making, and the challenges that sometimes prevent them from doing so. It puts forward policy and legislation recommendations for advancing the needs and rights of young people, ensuring their voices are meaningfully heard in public life and decision- making. The research from The Body Shop International and the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth supports the Be Seen Be Heard campaign. Launching in 2022, this global campaign aims to increase young people’s participation in political arenas and help make their voices heard across all spheres of public life.
The objective of the campaign is to seek to inspire a change in legislation or policy, or support initiatives, to promote youth participation in political life in all 75+ countries where The Body Shop operates.
Driven by the shared belief that all young voices should be heard, Raise Our Voice Australia has proudly partnered with The Body Shop Australia to ask young women and gender diverse Australians about their political engagement.
With just under 500 responses, this research captured their reflections on media reporting and politics, and the impact this has on their political actions.
Our 2020 data showed that young Asian women, young Black women, and young Latinas were more likely to talk politics, participate in elections, and fight racism.
In recent years, as youth have increased their civic and political participation both in the streets and at the ballot box, young women have often led the charge. In the 2020 election, we estimated voter turnout among young women was 55%, compared to 44% among young men. But, just as young people overall are not a monolith and differences in views or engagement among men and women, for example, are crucial to understand, there is also diversity among young women—especially by race/ethnicity.
Click here to read the full article published by Circle on 3 February 2022.
By Angela L. Bos, Jill S. Greenlee, Mirya R. Holman, Zoe M. Oxley and J. Celeste Lay
This article develops and tests a new theoretical framework, gendered political socialization, which offers important insights into how children perceive gender in politics and the consequences of these perceptions on sex differences in political interest and ambition. Based on data from 1,604 children who live in four different regions across the United States, we find that children not only perceive politics to be a male-dominated space, but with age, girls increasingly see political leadership as a “man’s world.” Simultaneously, as children grow older, they internalize gendered expectations, which direct their interests toward professions that embody the gendered traits that fit with their own sex. One result of this mismatch between women and politics is that girls express lower levels of interest and ambition in politics than do boys.
Statistics suggest women and youth dominate the country’s population, but with the local government election just weeks away the question of their participation in decision making remains a contested issue.
The Independent Electoral Commission’s announcement that the voter registration process for the upcoming election has elicited a good response from young persons augurs well for efforts that counter youth voter apathy.
This issue has been consistently raised in previous municipal elections, with the general feeling being that youth are not playing the active role they should be on this front.
Click here to read the full article published by Mail & Guardian on 21 October 2021.
