women’s ‘right to political participation’

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Background to the study and statement of the problem

It is estimated that the population of Africa is growing at an annual rate of about 2.2 percent.1 Africa’s current population of 1.062 million will increase to an estimated 1.937 billion by 2050.2 Women constitute 50 percent of the population in Lesotho and Rwanda while in South Africa and Uganda they account for nearly 51 percent of the population.3 Despite accounting for half of the population,4 in most African countries, women are not adequately ― and certainly not close to the level of 50 percent ―included in most political officesThe political and economic transformation in sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s paved the way for an increase in the political participation of women.5 Inspired by a belief that their ‘performance can be no worse than those of earlier male politicians, and is likely to be considerably better’,6 African women have increasingly sought public office.7 A noticeable area that has seen an increase in women’s political participation is the legislature
These increases are reflected in some African countries emerging among the highest ranked in the world.8 As a region, though, the sub-Saharan African regional average of women in lower houses of parliament is only 20.8 percent, which is only marginally higher than the world average of 20.7 percent.
In the area of local government, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda are regarded a pacesetters in terms of including women in local government leadership.10 According to a report by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), in2010 apparently the representation of women at local government was better than that at the national level.11 Lesotho and South Africa were cited as examples in this regard.12 Of course, reference may have been focussed only on certain positions within local governmen and not local government as a whole.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 
1.1 Background to the study and statement of the problem
1.2 Research questions
1.3 Terminological clarification
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Literature review
1.7 Overview of chapters
CHAPTER 2: NORMATIVE STANDARDS GOVERNING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The United Nations Charter sets the stage for women’s equal right to political participation.
2.3 The Economic and Social Council
2.4 The United Nations human rights instruments relevant to women’s political participation in local
government
2.5 The Vienna and Beijing conferences’ contribution in advancing women’s right to political participation
2.7 Conclusion
2.7.1 The meaning of the ‘right to political participation’
2.7.2 Using temporary special measures
2.7.3 Providing data to show the extent of women’s political involvement
2.7.4 Domestication of standards through the adoption of constitutional and other legal measures thatpromote women’s participation
CHAPTER 3: AFRICAN REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL NORMATIVE STANDARDS ON WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The right to political participation of women under the Africa human rights system
3.2.1 Contributions of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union and NEPAD to women’s politicalparticipation
(i) The role of the OAU/AU in advancing women’s participation in politics
(ii) The New Partnership for Africa’s Development: The African Peer Review Mechanism and women’s political participation
3.2.2 African regional human rights instruments relevant to the right to political participation
(i) African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and women’s political participation
(ii) Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
(iii) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
3.3 The right to political participation of women under sub-regional economic communities in Africa .
3.3.1 The East African Community
3.3.2 The Southern Africa Development Community
(i) Declaration and Treaty of SADC
(ii) The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan
(iii) The Protocol on Gender and Development
3.4 Conclusion
3.4.1 Further clarity on women’s ‘right to political participation’
3.4.2 Contribution to temporary special measures
3.4.3 Providing disaggregated data
3.4.4 Domestication of standards through constitutional and other legal measures
CHAPTER 4: THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS IN LESOTHO, RWANDA, SOUTH AFRICA AND UGANDA COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 5: BEYOND THE THEORETICAL REALM: EXAMINING THE EXTENT THAT STATE OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE IMPLEMENTED IN LESOTHO, RWANDA, SOUTH AFRICA AND UGANDA
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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