Browsing by Author "Thomas, Erika K."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    SWAPO’s 50/50 policy in Namibia’s national assembly (2015-2018): Full of sound and fury signifying nothing?
    (2019) Amupanda, Job S.; Thomas, Erika K.
    In 2013, Namibia’s ruling party, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), amended its constitution to implement the 50/50 gender policy. This policy required equal representation of men and women in all its leadership structures and in its representation in institutions such as the National Assembly. The party had been zigzagging on this policy it had adopted at its 2002 congress. Four years since the implementation of SWAPO’s 50/50, an analysis of the impact of this policy in the National Assembly paints a troubling picture. At the level of substance by looking at parliamentary motions tabled, we find that SWAPO’s 50/50 policy in the National Assembly – which resulted in increased number of women in the legislature - did not lead to meaningful agenda setting in favour of women political participation. This article reflects critically on the gender policy in the 6th parliament’s National Assembly, which is the principal law-making and policy-setting arm of parliament with a view to assess whether there have been successes in facilitating women empowerment and participation in a meaningful way.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Women and political participation in Namibia and Nigeria: A comparative analysis of women in elective positions
    (University of Namibia, 2018) Quadri, Maryam Omolara; Thomas, Erika K.
    While women in Namibia have made successful inroads into the country’s parliament despite gender barriers in the country, Nigerian women are yet to make any noticeable progress in their efforts to achieve political power. Women’s agitation for increase political participation over time has received backing from international instruments. The 1979 UN Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development are some of these international instruments. They emphasize that member nations, who signed and ratified these documents, put in place necessary mechanisms needed to eliminate gender discriminations and promote women’s cause generally. Nigeria just like Namibia has signed these documents and has even incorporated some provisions in its National Gender Policy. In comparison with Namibia, women in Nigeria still have a long way to go in politics. The question is what accounts for the slow progress of Nigerian women in gaining political power? This paper examines the trend in women’s political participation in Namibia and Nigeria by exploring and discussing those factors that engender increase in participation in Namibia and those that constrain the female politicians in Nigeria.