(2017) 1 African Human Rights Yearbook
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des femmes. Bien que des résultats significatifs aient été enregistrés, la participation
des femmes est, dans la plupart des cas, inférieure à la norme de 50% fixée par l’article
9. Cette sous-performance provient du fait que la plupart des mesures juridiques et
institutionnelles visant à garantir la participation des femmes sont limitées et ne sont
pas efficacement diffusées en raison de ressources limitées et de volonté politique
insuffisante. D’ailleurs, les femmes continuent de faire face à des formes persistantes
de violence sexiste, de pauvreté, d’obstacles socioculturels et institutionnels, qui
limitent leur participation politique. Cette réflexion recommande des réformes
politiques et électorales, y compris le changement du système électoral en vigueur au
mode de représentation proportionnelle, l’introduction de partis politiques
obligatoires et de quotas pour les femmes au niveau national, le nivellement du terrain
politique ainsi que la recherche, le lobbying et le plaidoyer en faveur de la participation
égale des femmes à la vie publique.
KEY WORDS: Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in
Africa, Maputo Protocol, decision-making, women, political participation,
barriers, gender, equality
CONTENT:
1
2
3
4
5
1
Introduction and background .................................................................................. 61
Concept and importance of article 9 of the Women’s Rights Protocol .......... 64
Practices for implementing article 9 in Zimbabwe ............................................. 67
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Constitutional reform............................................................................................. 67
National policy reforms.......................................................................................... 70
Practices by political parties................................................................................... 72
Practices by NGOs and civil society ...................................................................... 74
Persistent obstacles to women’s participation ..................................................... 75
Conclusion and recommendations ......................................................................... 79
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The equal representation and participation of women in public life
gained impetus in the second half of the 20th century. This advance
resulted from democratisation and development processes, worldwide, and the increasing emphasis on non-discrimination, justice and
inclusiveness after the creation of the United Nations (UN). Indeed, a
democratic society puts value and worth on all human beings’
contribution to matters shaping their lives and the development and
wellbeing of society at all levels.1
The quest for gender equality and non-discrimination is expressed
in several UN human rights2 and development3 frameworks. Within
the African region, a number of frameworks4 speak to gender equality,
including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African
Charter), and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and
1
UNDP Zimbabwe Human Development Report 2000: Governance (Nat print:
Harare 2000).
2
See art 21(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); articles 3 and 25
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966); and articles 2 and 7 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW 1979).
3
For development strategies see the Sustainable Development Goals 5.5 (SDGs)
2015-2030, which succeeds the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000-2015.
4
See art 4(l) of the Constitutive Act of the AU; AU Gender Policy; Solemn Declaration
on Equality in Africa; Agenda 2063; Commission on the Status of Women 59th and 60th
Sessions (2015, 2016); and declaration of 2010-2020 as the African Women’s Decade.