iKnow Politics

Rwandans will vote next week in parliamentary elections set to bring women to the forefront. Rwanda has the world’s highest proportion of female political representatives and it’s an achievement women are determined to build on.

Marie Médiatrice Izabiliza carefully lays the table in her family home in the Kabuga neighbourhood outside the Rwandan capital of Kigali, setting down china cups, teapot and fruit before settling down to talk.

A new study shows that women are less likely than men to participate in political corruption, but only in countries where corruption is stigmatized.

Researchers from Rice University in Houston found that women are less tolerant of corrupt behavior, but only in democratic governments, where political corruption is typically punished — either by the courts or by voters.

“The relationship between gender and corruption appears to depend on context,” said Justin Esarey, Ph.D., an assistant professor of political science and the study’s lead author.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday stressed equal participation of women alongside men in political decision making as this only could help achieve the real development and progress of a nation.

“In Bangladesh, we celebrate empowerment of women Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman envisioned a Bangladesh where women would have equal rights as men. This legacy has inspired me to carry on the work in ensuring that all genders enjoy equal rights. Only this can help achieve real development and progress of a nation,” she said.

The woman who helped launch the beginning of the end of Bob Filner's mayoral careeris now being recognized as a "Woman of Courage".

That salute to Donna Frye's courage and civic activism comes from Run Women Run -- an influential, nonpartisan political action committee that promotes women in electoral politics.

In an interview Wednesday with NBC 7, Frye ruled out questions and discussion about the many women she urged to come forward with sexual allegations against Filner.

Russia is known for being a patriarchal country, but despite considerable barriers, some women leaders have managed to reach high levels in the political hierarchy.

Women make up only 13 percent of deputies in the Russian State Duma (61 seats out of 450, following the 2012 national elections), and at the federal level, their representation is even lower - at 6 percent.

There's something missing from our political offices, and the answer is in the hormones. We need more estrogen.

Despite having successful female examples at the national level such as Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Nancy Pelosi, the number of women in political office is staggeringly low. According to a 2013 study by the Center for American Women and Politics, women comprise only 18.3% of Congress; in other words, they hold only 98 of the 535 seats.

Seven local women announced the formation of the Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida Inc. The nonprofit corporation will “provide ... training resources and counseling services to promote and fulfill the vital need for women to serve at all levels of government in the Florida counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa". Former Pensacola City Councilor Diane Mack is the organization’s first president. 

A haredi woman running for the new Ometz Lev party in Jerusalem’s municipal elections has received anonymous threats demanding that she withdraw her candidacy.

Masada Porat, founder of a Web portal for women called Womenet, has been given the party’s sixth slot on its electoral list in the October 22 elections for the Jerusalem City Council.

In the past two days she and her husband have received numerous threatening phone threats with the anonymous callers demanding she step away from the political campaign.

On a sunny day in early May, in Ndu, northwest Cameroon, a group of women, many of whom have taken the day off from work on their farms, are evaluating the performance of an aspiring politician. One suggests smiling more, another that the candidate project her voice more and not look at her feet while talking.The women are here in the Bishop Shanahan Centre to improve their public-speaking skills and learn more about electoral procedures.