women's representation

Last Monday, Central African Republic chose a leader the people believe can pull the country out of its destructive downward spiral. The leader the people of this troubled nation look to with great and hopeful expectations may come as a surprise. Her name is Catherine Samba-Panza – and yes, she is a woman.

We invite you to read the full article published January 24, 2014

Solomon Islands Parliamentarian Milner Tozaka says he supports the women’s desire to have 10 seats reserved for them in the National Parliament. And he urged the National Coalition for Rural Advancement Government led by Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo to proceed with its plan to introduce legislation to reserve the 10 seats.

We invite you to read the full article published January 21, 2014

As yet another female Tory MP announces she is to stand down, the soul-searching has begun about why women still find life in the Commons so unbearable. Laura Sandys says she is leaving politics because of "family demands". But the impression given is she is part of a growing exodus of recently elected women; "rising stars" forced out tragically early by the macho posturing in parliament.

A revision to Nicaragua’s law on municipal elections last year required political parties to put up equal numbers of women and men as candidates for mayor and city council. It also increased the number of city council seats in each municipality. The result has been more women than ever winning races for mayor and city council.

One of them was Antonia Rizo, a city councilor in San Sebastian de Yal. “When I arrived at my position, I was afraid to speak,” she said, because of lack of familiarity with the city’s legal system.

Advocates for women in Fiji say they are still hoping for special measures mandating women’s representation in parliament.

Fiji’s new constitution does not contain temporary special measures for women, a mechanism some countries use to speed up progress towards gender equality.

But a spokesperson for the Fiji Women’s Forum, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, says there is still time for this to happen as the state has an end of year deadline to make changes to the constitution.

Almost 10 years ago, in early spring 2004, I was one of 14 women appointed to the House of Lords. At the same time, 33 men were appointed.

Hundreds of women on Sunday marched through major streets in Awka to protest against the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

They gathered at Arroma Junction and marched through Alex Ekwueme Square to the INEC office in the state capital.

A member of the group who declined to identify herself said they would not accept the result of the election because there was no voting in most parts of the state.

The 1,110 affidavits filed by candidates during the nomination process till Saturday throw up some interesting figures and information about those who want to represent Delhiites in the Assembly.