Advocacy & Lobbying

There is increase in politically motivated violence against women in Zimbabwe, manifesting as rape and sexual assault, direct violence and hate speech, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) has said.

The United Nations Women (UN Women) has called for an increase in women’s political participation in Nigeria.

Beatrice Eyong, UN Women representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), spoke on Tuesday at the national conference on women’s political participation in Nigeria.

The conference was organised in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) to assess women’s participation in the 2023 general election.

In any country, the political empowerment of women is generally possible with two routes — the first is to reserve seats for women in legislature by means of legislation and the second is to have provision for quotas for women candidates within political parties while nominating candidates. There are examples for both that have been adopted in various countries, in turn helping women’s political empowerment.

Suyen Barahona, as president of the Nicaraguan Unión Democrática Renovadora (UNAMOS), was kidnapped and sent to the country’s infamously grim El Chipote prison for 606 days. She was jailed solely for her political involvement and human rights activism, a victim of the crackdown carried out by President Daniel Ortega’s government prior to national elections. […]

KAMPALA – Activists have decried underlying factors that still pose a threat to the attained efforts in the advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women in political, economic and social spheres.

During a media briefing on the state of women’s rights and gender equality in Uganda convened by the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), the Women’s Movement said that Uganda has enacted progressive legislation promoting gender equity and equality but women and girls are yet to achieve their full potential.

A joint statement by the United Nations, European Union, OSCE, NATO, and embassies from various countries in Georgia marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and emphasizes that gender-based violence remains a critical problem in Georgia, despite decisive step

The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), has expressed concerned over low participation of women in politics and called for urgent measures to reverse the situation.

The President of NILOWV, Irene Ikyegh, stated this at the inauguration of new executive council of the league and fund raising programme, held in Abuja.

Ikyegh said NILOWV was determined to help women play a larger role in government and public affairs in the country.

SKOPJE/VIENNA/WARSAW, 25 November 2023 - Launching the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, OSCE leaders called on participating States to step up their efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, end impunity and support survivors.

Despite progress made in raising awareness and strengthening responses to gender-based violence, it is estimated that one in three women have experienced gender-based violence.