Countries in Transision: Options for Women’s Political ParticipationOn the International Women’s Day, Africa Contact launched the report “Countries in Transition: Options for Women’s Political Participation” with our partners Gendernet, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy and KVINFO. The report outlines the findings and recommendations from the international conference held in December 2011
Last year we went on the streets in Copenhagen in a solidarity event to raise awareness about political violence against women in Zimbabwe, and this year we went into the meeting room to address Danish civil society and mobilise support to continue fighting for women’s right to participate in decision-making and public life.
- NCA Chairperson, Lovemore Madhuku, speaking at the conference on 8. December 2011
The report presents NCA Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku’s analysis of political violence in the context of women’s role in the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe. It also includes NCA International Coordinator Munjodzi Mutandiri’s presentation of NCA’s strategies of mobilising and protecting activist women, who live in fear for becoming targets of physical attacks, abductions, torture, rape and psychological violence.
At the launch an activist from Africa Contact stressed the importance to continue our work with inclusion of marginalised groups, such as women, in political processes and decision-making. Africa Contact remain deeply committed to the fight for Zimbabwean women to continue the struggle for democracy without fear of political violence.
In Zimbabwe and around the world, women face a range of different problems when they become politically active, such as economic and cultural barriers for their active participation. Director of the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD), Bjørn Førde, stressed that the issue of women’s political participation cannot be addressed as an isolated problem.
- Director of DIPD, Bjørn Førde, speaking at the launch
The roots causes of unequal access to power and influence are closely interlinked with economic, social and cultural power, and in many societies the loss of power equals a loss of economic benefits, social status and power in other spheres of life. A genuine process of democratisation therefore need to address the issue of separating political power from social and economic power.
As the International Women’s Day was coming to an end, we left the launch with new inspiration to continue our struggle for women’s opportunities to contribute to defining the future of their countries.
Download the report Countries in Transision: Options for Women’s Political Participation
Read the International Women’s Day statements from Reserach and Advocacy Unit and National Constitutional Assembly
