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CGH13_ebook

Wome n ’s p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p i n E a s t A f r i c a wi t h s p e c i f i c r e f e r e n c e t o Ug a n d a electoral systems and gender quotas. Multi-member, proportional representation electoral systems have proven to be the most encouraging towards allowing women governmental positions. The likelihood of women to be nominated is higher in a party system with a small number of large parliamentary parties as large parties are likely to have safe seats in which they can place female candidates. African politics, however, is characterised by fragmented and ineffective opposition parties, which makes the likelihood of women begetting official seats even more unlikely. Norris and Inglehart add a country’s level of democratisation as one of the most important institutional factors to consider when explaining women’s political leadership. In general, the transition and consolidation of democratic societies can be expected to promote widespread political and civil liberties, including the right of women to vote and stand for elected office. Finally, analysts view gender quotas as the most certain way to further women’s political leadership. Sub-Saharan Africa uses two different types of quotas: the system of reserved seats established national legislation (as used in Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania) and quotas voluntarily established by political parties (as seen in Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa). Some consider gender quotas as ‘discrimination and a violation of the principle of fairness’, but others view them as ‘compensation for structural barriers that prevent fair competition’. The case of Uganda The opportunities available for women to effectively participate in political leadership A 2001 United Nations report recommends institutional changes to establish gender equality in basic rights as the cornerstone of greater equality in political participation and voice. Similarly, policies and programmes that promote equality in education and access to information, including legal literacy, can strengthen women’s urgency and their capacity to participate in the political arena. Internationally, the legal framework of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Uganda is a member through Article 7 (a) and (b), and strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action are all geared towards the effective participation of women. In Uganda, Articles 32(1), 33(2), 22(3), 33(4), 33(5), 78 (1) (b) of the 1995 constitution all encompass affirmative action seats for women. Furthermore, National Objectives XV and VI also encompass affirmative action that led to the establishment of the equal opportunities commission. The Local Government Act 1997 has the potential to strengthen women’s participation in local government decision making. The Electoral Commission Act 1997 mandates the commission to organise elections and cater for women’s quotas, while the Political Parties and Organisation’s Act 2005, the Press and Journalists Act, and the Electronic Media Act prohibit Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 33 Tenth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in Dhaka, June 2013 Commonwealth Secretariat


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