About Us
Background
Women’s leadership and participation is an avenue for women’s right to equal opportunity and participation across all spheres of society. It is also key to accelerating economic growth and development and has proven to have long-term benefits for societies and the environment. A report by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission argues that gender equality in the workplace can help unlock more than US$12 trillion in new market value linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is critical not only for attaining gender equality but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. There is overwhelming evidence that lends credence to this assertion – women’s leadership and participation are key to achieving gender equality and development.
Despite the many progressive conventions, legislation and policy frameworks, women’s leadership and participation in decision making still remains below the 50% threshold: women hold about 21 percent of ministerial positions globally, only three countries have 50 percent or more women in parliament, and only 22 countries are headed by a woman (UN Women Report).
Malawi has made substantial progress in enhancing gender equality. Malawi’s Constitution states that women enjoy the same rights as men, and Malawi is a signatory to regional and international protocols encouraging gender equality, such as the 2008 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development.
In the past years, Malawi has also made significant including the enactment of several laws aimed at building gender equality, most notably the Gender Equality Act (2012) which stipulates that 40 percent of public positions should be held by women; and the election of women as Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Speaker of the National Assembly and the Ombudsman.
While these appointments are greatly significant to Malawi’s pursuit of Gender Equality, progress remains slow on the country, particularly looking at entrenching continued women’s leadership and participation, and retainment of women leaders in leadership and decision making positions. Afro-Barometer’s most recent survey suggests that “women in Malawi remain less likely than men to engage in political activities, and public support for women’s leadership has declined.”
At the same time, women persist, and continue to prove that when they lead, they bring transformative changes to entire communities and the world at large. Inclusive and diverse feminist leadership is key to sustained global development as the world continues to confront urgent challenges – from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change, deepening inequalities, conflict and democratic backsliding.
Profiling Malawian Women
This innovative platform comes at an opportune time when Malawi was appointed as co-lead for the Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, which aims to spotlight women in leadership and the importance of retaining women in leadership positions including political and development spaces, particularly, in Government offices where key development decisions are made.
Building on this, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) took up the challenge to call for women in Malawi who qualify for public appointments to submit their profiles. The response was and has been overwhelming. HeR Liberty and For Equality have joined forces with the MHRC to enhance women’s leadership and participation by ‘Profiling Women in Malawi’ from different sectors and with different expertise under a campaign “It starts with woMEn.”
About the campaign
“It Starts with woMEn” campaign emphasis on ME which is meant to ground gender equality and shifts in gender and cultural norms within the individual – specifically government leaders at different levels and private sector must be held accountable to make the necessary change needed to advance gender equality and enhance women’s leadership and participation in Malawi. An online database in the form of a dedicated website that will profile women across different sectors. This tool can be used as a quick reference tool for public appointments as well as a recruitment tool by prospective employers looking for women candidates. Women leaders in Malawi are not waiting for the doors to open. They know they have the right to lead and participate – and they will not hesitate to claim it.
