The forum organized by civil society organizations involved in advocating for the enhancement of political rights of women’s and girls to include: Forum for African Women Educationalists FAWE, The African Women Development and Communications Network FEMNET and PADARE ENKUNDI – Mens forum on Gender has beginning of week held meetings at a Nairobi hotel engaging men on how to enhance the participation of Women in Political affairs in Africa.
Sponsored by The Government of Sweden through High Commission of sweden to Kenya, The Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the FPP the event dubbed; ” Mens Actors Capacity Building Session on Enhancing the Inclusion of women in Political Participation in Africa, the forum sought to establish the bottlenecks impeding the successful implementation of gender equity programs enhancing political participation of women and girls in Africa.
The Organizations to include: the movement for Men Against Aids in Africa, Advocates for social change, Masculinity Institute and Elimu foundation have in the past advocated for protection of women against Gender violence, pushed for the bill in parliament to include the sexual offenses bill in the Kenya parliament.
The Caucas established that some of the factors limiting participation of women in Political Affairs include a hostile political environment especially during the time for general elections, oppressive patriarchal practices and culture to include female genital mutilation; and inhibitive religious doctrines as some of the factors inhibiting successful adoption of gender sensitive polices and which enhance participation of women in politics.
The Republic of Rwanda is so far the only country which has successfully implemented Gender parity polices.
