Research and monitoring

As Madagascar gears up for local elections tomorrow every indication is that women’s representation is likely to decline as there are no female candidates fielded in the major cities where […]

Formações sobre a integração do género nos pleitos eleitorais A Gender Links Moçambique realizou nos dias 11-16 do mês de Setembro, uma formação que reuniu jornalistas e membros de partidos […]

Political parties in South Africa lack concrete strategies to address violence against women, a problem facing a huge number of their constituents and a significant challenge to the country’s development. This was the message to political party representatives at a debate organised by Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Women’sNet and the Political Studies Department of Wits University earlier this month in Johannesburg. The debate challenged political parties to explain to voters ahead of the 22 April elections concrete measures they plan to combat rape and domestic violence.

During the May 2010, election in Mauritius an alert was raised on the disturbing language and imagery used by the leader of the opposing coalition, Mr Paul Berenger: “Ramgoolam envoie des femmes a l’abbatoir” translated as “Ramgoolam sending women to be put down like animals”, when referring to his opponent, the leader of the ruling party and Prime Minister’s, decision to nominate 13 female candidates in constituencies where the opposing coalition was strong.

GEMSA participated in the Fourth Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) 10 November 2009. It was a special day for groups in 130 countries who gathered to monitor their news media and GEMSA chapters in the Southern African Region.
After months of planning, preparations and training, they brought the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) to life. The groups monitored news on major media outlets selected on the basis of reach, density and diversity.

In just a month, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development will mark its first anniversary, a year since most of the region’s leaders signed the document in August 2008, committing to 23 different targets towards gender equality À“ including 50/50 in decision-making. Yet, elections held across the region since the historic signing show mixed progress to making this target a reality

Dear President-elect Jacob Zuma

As I write this letter to you, I am looking at the invitation to your inauguration on Saturday 9 May. I must say that I have never felt so ambivalent before about being invited to an event at the Union Buildings. Maybe I am just shocked that I even made it onto the guest list. I would not rank up there with Jonathan Shapiro (or Zapiro) as one of your most prominent detractors (I see the shower head is to remain in his cartoons..) but I certainly have been a vocal critic.

Recent revelations that the southern African media hardly considers gender equality newsworthy raise serious concerns about the media?s claims to the principles of democracy, good governance and human rights.

The 2009 Malawi presidential and parliamentary elections are gripping in more than one aspect. Not only will these be one of the most hotly contested since the dawn of multi-party politics in 1993, but ironically the ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) will contest for the first time after assuming power through the back door. The elections are also significant potential opportunity for increasing participation of women.

As the only woman who sits on my newspaper?s board of editors, my moment of truth came when my male colleagues asked me to take minutes during our meetings, because ?our decisions were not being implemented.? Being the only woman in the editorial board, it was expected that I would take the minutes. You can imagine my outrage! What the connection between my biology and my ability to take minutes was, completely escaped me!

I have survived ? I have reclaimed my identity, my humanity and my confidence. His words cannot hurt me anymore. But it took me a long time to get to this point. For too many years I believed the hurtful things he said about me; that I was ?useless, worthless and stupid.? But I know now that it is not true. Years of psychological abuse from my ex-husband made me feel like I was no one.

South Africa’s new president Jacob Zuma did his best to follow the footsteps of his nemesis Thabo Mbeki when he announced a cabinet edging towards gender parity on 10 May. But gender advocates note with concern the lack of parity in top structures of government; the declining proportion of women deputy ministers; questionable credentials of some women ministers and the establishment of a women’s ministry.