Just days before parliamentary polls in Pakistan, leading Prime Ministerial contender and anti terrorism crusader Benazir Bhutto was shot dead during an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. "She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik.
Women in Sierra Leone are trying to pass an amendment to the constitution that would set aside 30 percent of all elected and appointed political positions for women. Today, women hold only 13 percent of legislative seats, and three of 20 ministerial positions.
With general elections expected to take place in Zimbabwe this coming March, a campaign is underway to increase women's political participation in the Southern African country.
Although they came out in large numbers to contest in the 2007 General Election last week, only 15 women candidates have made it to the 10th Parliament after successfully conducting campaigns that were marred by violence and other challenges.
The Pipeline to Politics Project conference seeks to empower women to become leaders in the political and civic arenas, said Hannah Brenner, director of Women’s Leadership Programs at the Carl Albert Congressional and Studies Center.
Canada's first female prime minister has launched a spirited defence of the woman who hopes to become the United States' first female president.
Sierra Leone will hold general elections Saturday with a number of significant achievements in hand, not least maintaining peace for five years
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