Sub Saharan Africa

The Africa regional review of Beijing +15 focused on progress in the 12 thematic areas, and was drawn from a survey conducted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa with responses from 41 of the 53 African countries. The review noted that the most recent development in this regard was the incorporation of the 50/50 target of women representation in politics and decision- making positions in the SADC gender protocol.

The African Union Commission and International IDEA launched a 5 year Joint Activity Plan (JAP) in 2008. The Joint Activity Plan is designed to support the African Union Commission in implementing its mandate related to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance that was adopted by the African Union in 2007. One of the stated objectives of the AU African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance is to ‘promote gender balance and equality in the governance and development processes’.

Female representation in government and legislative bodies in sub-Saharan Africa is growing but more women must take political leadership roles in their countries to ensure that laws and conventions protecting their rights are implemented, according to civil society groups. In 2006, the continent saw its first elected female head of state in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. The overall percentage of women legislators in sub-Saharan Africa is 18.5 percent and has risen steadily over the last decade according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU

Hillary Clinton’s speech was met with silence from the male-dominated envoys at the African Union as she criticized the continents aging autocrats. The mood changed when the U.S. Secretary of State turned her attention to women.

When South Sudan became the world’s newest country on July 9, it joined the community of nations with a new constitution adopted by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in an eight-hour session on July 6. Now it must work to develop a permanent constitution, and many citizens and civic groups are eager to lend a hand.

In Africa, as in the rest of the world, women's progress is inextricably linked to community, national and global prosperity.

Because of this, women need to be central to global aid efforts. Not only in the worst of circumstances, such as the Horn of Africa, but throughout the world. Economies grow more strongly and communities flourish when we invest in women. Alongside men, women strengthen their county, increasing its productivity, with equality leading to great rewards for entire communities.

African leaders have been criticised for not taking the issues of climate change and women seriously after the African First Ladies Forum on Climate Change failed to draw the participation of first ladies on the continent.

Dr Aminu Zakari of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Studies in Nigeria says the forum's work has already been delayed for two years.

5 April 2012 - Delegates at the 126th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Kampala, Uganda have asked parliamentary institutions in the world to prioritise matters of maternal and child health.

In the resolution passed, yesterday, parliamentarians were urged to ensure a coordinated approach to all matters pertaining to maternal and child health, such as sanitation, access to safe drinking water, the fight against malnutrition, and gender quality.

For the full story, see All Africa.

16 April 2012 - Constitutional reforms in many African countries aim to provide more social and political inclusion. In some cases, that means giving greater powers to lower levels of government. They’re getting a greater say in how national funds are allocated and spent. Political inclusion can also mean setting quotas for women and other minorities or giving a greater say to local communities.

For the full story, see Voice of America.