In Cameroon, Leap Girl Africa and Association au Secours des Filles Mères (ASFM, the Association for the Support of Single Mothers) have teamed up to launch a joint project aimed at enhancing the representation of women in politics. Following a series of discussions under the Feminists in Action initiative, these organizations are working together to create a meaningful space for women in the political and civic arenas, with a focus on both Maroua in the north and the capital, Yaoundé.
WOMEN’S LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
Across the world, the participation of women in politics remains insufficient, and Cameroon is no exception. As one member of ASFM explains, “The underrepresentation of women in political leadership and decision-making has slowed progress toward gender equality. Young women and girls continue to be left out of key participation and decision-making spaces, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas.”
Although women are active in civil society, particularly in associations, few hold positions of influence. For younger women, the problem is even more pronounced: they are nearly invisible in both public institutions and administrations. Pertulla Ezigha, the founder of Leap Girl Africa, highlights the negative effects of this exclusion: “Civic and political engagement is essential for demanding and defending one’s rights. Yet, from our observations, many women under 30 show little to no interest in politics and its processes.”
Listen: Politique, le dernier bastion (politics, the last bastion) — an episode from the podcast Nos Voix Féministes (our feminist voices).
SLOW BUT ENCOURAGING PROGRESS
While gender parity in politics remains elusive, the strides made by women in the past few decades are noteworthy. According to the latest report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the share of women in national parliaments has steadily increased, reaching 26.9% in 2024. This growth is slow and varies widely by region, but Sub-Saharan Africa stands out, with the largest rise in female parliamentary representation recorded in 2023.
In Cameroon, women hold 31% of seats in the national parliament but account for less than 10% of executive positions, according to the Nkafu Institute. In the 2020 parliamentary elections, a third of the seats were won by women. In the Senate, the number of women increased from 21 in 2013 to 33 following the 2023 elections. However, ASFM and Leap Girl Africa caution that these statistics tell only part of the story. “Political parties do not always include poorer women on their candidate lists because they lack the resources to fund their campaigns. Moreover, most of these women are either unmotivated or unaware that they can also take part as potential candidates. Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) does not always verify candidate lists from the regions, and traditional leaders do not encourage women to participate in the electoral process. As a result, women are often left out.”
As part of their collaborative project, both organizations plan to conduct a national study on the barriers, opportunities, and potential impact associated with full female involvement in political spaces. They are also working on drafting a bill to institutionalize gender quotas for decision-making positions, including elected offices, ministerial roles, and diplomatic posts. Finally, they will host training sessions for women under 35 to support their political engagement and establish a network of female elected officials.
| A little bit of history: Cameroonian women gained the right to vote in October 1946, but it wasn’t until six years later that they were allowed to stand for election to the French Cameroonian Constituent Assembly. Sadly, none were elected. It wasn’t until 1957 and 1959 that the first women from the Southern Cameroons were elected to parliament. During the post-colonial period, from the 1960s when both France and Britain left Cameroon, women continued to fight for leadership roles in decision-making institutions. However, many faced significant socio-cultural barriers: “Some question why women need to become political leaders, elected decision-makers, or civil society activists, and some still believe that women have no place in decision-making or politics.” Through their joint efforts, Leap Girl and ASFM are working to challenge these norms and create a future where women’s voices and leadership are not just heard but valued in the political landscape of Cameroon. |