SMP Gender Equality Forum-Gender Matters in Leadership

Gender matters in leadership

Meeting Plan IntroductionsUpdate since last Gender Equality ForumWomen in leadership in Scotland and Malawi

Comparing the Scotland and Malawi contextCase Study: The Active Learning Centre and the

Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Learning from partnership

Women in leadership: the quotas debate Exploring the debate

Other examples of leadership Reflecting on women leaders we have worked with in

MalawiLooking Forwards

Identifying Scotland’s contribution towards gender equality

Quiz AnswersFemale MPs in the UK: 22.3%Female MSPs in Scotland: 34.88%Female MPs in Malawi: 22.3%

Female Ministers in the UK: 17.2%Female Ministers in Malawi: 21.4%

Female High Court Judges in the UK (2004): 7%Female High Court Judges in Malawi (2008): 14.8%

Female Civil Servants in the UK (2011): 53%Female Civil Servants in Malawi (2008): 19.3%

Female political representation-Scotland

• 34.88% female MSPs (2012)

•24% female councillors (2012)

•Between 2007 and 2011 women candidates fell from 36% to 29%.

• UK Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002

Female political representation-Malawi

•22% female MPs (2009)•2009: 237 women (136 in 2004) contested parliament seats - 43 were elected •Much of this was the result of the ‘50:50’ campaign, supported by development partners and adopted by high profile campaigners.•Gender Equality Act, February 2013, assented by the President April 2013.

Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Goal: to promote gender ideals and women’s empowerment in all legislative activities

Public female role models can inspire a changing cultural framework in which traditional roles and responsibilities can be renegotiated

Peer support among women MPs – making them more effective members of parliament

Report reflects work Apr 2010 to Mar 2013

Challenges

There is no better tool for development than the empowerment of women and girls• Retaining women MPs – only 4% stood for re-

election in 2009• Getting more women MPs elected• People need to know how to use an MP• Attitudes to women candidates need to change

A view from Scotland

“Men have a responsibility to ensure they do not put up obstacles and barriers in front of their daughters, sisters and mothers.” Humza Yousaf MSP

“as women politicians we quickly learned that life was still not equal, or fair”. Karen Gillon, MSP 1999 – 2011

Humza Yousaf MSP, Scotland’s Minister for International Development and External Affairs

What qualities of leadership are being demonstrated?

What has led to their successes as leaders?

What are the challenges they have faced?

Case study: ALC Caucus Report

Recommendations:Better support for women MPsCross party workingLocal government post 2014Working with international organisations

Retention of women MPs

Case study: ALC Caucus Report

Dr Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula-Malawian academic and activist•Do women have to “become like men” to succeed?•Need a structure to “enable women to emerge from the base”•What would a non-male dominated state look like?

Prioritise female participationRe-structuring political powerAdopt a feminist approach to developmentWomen would not be 2nd class citizensWomen’s labour recognised and rewarded, even

what is done at home and in informal spaces

Dr Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula

“Affirmative action is what addresses structural imbalances, not having one woman running government.”

Faustace Chirwa, ED of National Women’s Lobby Group, Malawi

The case for positive action in Malawi: The Gender Equality Law: there is hope that more women will

participate in political leadership backed- but much depends on how soon the law shall be publicized to inform the women about the importance of this law

Awareness and education will enable women to demand their space in political leadership, using the Law as the tool to seek redress when they are discriminated against.

There is need for the political parties to implement Part IV - Employment in the Public Service of the Gender Equality Law- hoping that this Law extends to political parties!

At the moment political parties are heavily patronised by males only at decision making levels or in political leadership positions.

Need to get a “critical mass” into parliament.

Gender in leadershipDo you have a project coordinator/primary liaison in Malawi?

Is this a man or a woman?

How was this person ‘selected’?

Have you come across any gender assumptions, at either side of your partnership?

What impact does this person’s role in the project have on their status in the local community?

Is there more that could be done to support gender equality in the leadership of your links?

Elizabeth – community leader

Gender in leadership

Lizzie Banda – community leader

Looking forwards-Tripartite Elections 2014•2009 50:50 Campaign•2014: UNDP has pledged $9m for design and implementation of new 50:50 campaign•Faustace Chirwa:

“Tripartite elections in 2014 offer an opportunity to increase the number of women in political leadership at Parliamentary and Ward level.

no political will on the part of government to woo more women to participate in the elections as candidates.

This is because of the current threat against the leadership, and instead of her encouraging women to participate in the elections in huge numbers, she is busy protecting her seat! ”

Looking forwardsIdeas:• Postcards outlining reality in Scotland and Malawi

(gender equality bill)• Consider how we use modern technologies to support

gender messaging between Scotland and Malawi• Local authority links between Scotland and Malawi

leading up to and beyond 2014• CPA (Scotland Branch) offering continued support to

parliamentarians in Malawi• Parliamentary pairing between Scotland and Malawi• Gender Equality Act in language that can be

accessible for young girls and boys in schools (creating resources through Scotland-Malawi network)

• SG continuing to support ALC in supporting training for female candidates/parliamentarians