ECOWAS Pushes for 50/50 Gender Parity by 2035 (Bold Reforms Needed for Women, Youth in Politics)
The ECOWAS Commission has called for big changes to the way elections are run in West Africa so that by 2035, half of all elected positions will be held by women. Sandra Oulaté Fattouh, the Director of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, spoke at the ECOWAS Regional Consultation on Political Participation and Leadership of Women and Youth in Accra. She said that a 2024 study showed that women only hold 18.4 percent of parliamentary seats in the region and that youth under 35 are not well represented. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection worked with the center to put on the four-day meeting from February 17 to 20. It brought together policymakers and other interested parties to look at progress and suggest changes to make governance more inclusive. The bloc is celebrating its 50th anniversary on May 28, 1975. Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Chief Director, said that the government was moving forward with its RESET agenda to break down structural barriers that make it hard for women and young people to participate. Ruben K.D. Johnson, the Senior Advisor, also said that gender equality and inclusive human capital development are still very important to the regional body’s goals.
