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Elections

The right to vote and the right to stand for election are two fundamental elements of democracy. Notably, many countries did not afford women the right to vote until the 20th Century. Even today, universal suffrage is not a given right in all countries, and women often face obstacles that undermine their participation in political and electoral processes. There are various ways to support women in overcoming these obstacles. Such methods include revising the electoral system used, applying affirmative action mechanisms such as quotas, improving voter education for women and training political candidates. These are a few of the modes available to strengthen women’s political participation .Photo©Jens Franssen

February 6, 2023
Harassment of women in politics on the rise in Sri Lanka

Election monitors and activists express concern that digital harassment of female politicians will increase when the local council elections campaign gets into full swing in the coming weeks.

A women casts her ballot in  the 2018 general elections in Freetown. ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP
January 30, 2023
Sierra Leone opens door for more women in parliament

A new law in Sierra Leone will ensure that at least 30% of parliamentarians are women and impose similar quotas in other institutions, including government, local councils, the diplomatic corps and the civil service.

January 23, 2023
Cameroon activists push gender parity for Senate elections

MAROUA, CAMEROON — Activists in Cameroon are urging more women candidates to enter races for Senate seats before a January 28 deadline. Only 26 members of Cameroon's 100-member senate are women, a number advocates want to see doubled.

January 21, 2023
Breaking barriers: Women in Nigeria defy odds to contest in elections, but face uphill battle

For Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, running for a second term as a member of parliament in Nigeria means putting her life on the line, says the 56-year-old politician who is running in the February 25 legislative elections in the southwest of Africa's mos

January 18, 2023
Nigeria: APM's Chichi Ojei vows to win 2023 presidential election

Princess Chichi Ojei, Presidential Candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), has expressed confidence of winning the February presidential election.

Ojei said this on Friday in Abuja, in a New Year statement tagged 2023: A glorious future beckons for Nigerians.

January 10, 2023
118th Congress has a record number of women

Women make up more than a quarter (28%) of all members of the 118th Congress – the highest percentage in U.S. history and a considerable increase from where things stood even a decade ago.