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Voices from the Commonwealth

Women in Politics (1999)
Commonwealth Secretariat Publication

The edition profiles 33 women in politics from 11 countries of the Commonwealth: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Dominica, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, South Africa, and Uganda. The study illustrates the diversity of experiences from regions of the Commonwealth.

The study focuses on the realities of life for those committed and courageous women who have taken the decision to take up politics. The recounting of the particular experiences emphasises the challenges and barriers which women politicians face. At another level, the study attempts to analyse, through the life accounts of these 33 women, the different strategies that women could develop, and put into place for entry into the world of politics. These profiles demonstrate the critical role which women can play as the Commonwealth strives to achieve the goals of gender equality, development and peace for the Commonwealth into the new Millennium.

The 33 women politicians profiled are:
Lois O'Donoghue, Jocelyn Newman, Cheryl Kernot (Australia); Jahan Ara Begum, Motia Chowdhury, Syeda Begum Sajeda Chowdhury (Bangladesh); Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Sheila Finestone, Thérèse Lavoie-Roux (Canada); Dame Eugenia Charles, Josephine Dublin, Gertrude Roberts (Commonwealth of Dominica); Viola Burham, Janet Rosenberg Jagan, Urmia Johnson (Guyana); Margaret Alva, Promila Dandavate, Sushma Swaraj (India); Seri Rafidah Aziz, Dato Napsiah Omar, Dato Kee Phaik Cheen (Malaysia); Dame Josephine Abaijah, Enny Moraitz, Nahau Rooney (Papua New Guinea); Annette Georges, Sylvette Frichot, Danielle Jorre de St. Jorre (Seychelles); Sheila Camerer, Frene Ginwala, Nkosazana Zuma (South Africa); Rhoda Kalema, Speciosa Kazibwe, and Janet Mukwaya (Uganda).

To order this publication, visit the Commonwealth Publications website.

Some Personal Views from Women Politicians Within the Commonwealth:

Dato Napsiah Omar from Malaysia:
"Women have been disadvantaged by their lack of financial resources. Access to campaign funds is the key to increasing the participation of women in politics."

Speciosa Kazibwe from Uganda recalls:
"Women hoping to succeed in politics must be able to deliver. It demands professionalism and attention at all times to performance - 'performance' is the key to 'credibility'.

Urmia Johnson of Guyana argues:
For aspiring women politicians, "it is essential to build a firm base of community involvement and grass roots activism. One has to get out there with the people!"

Margaret Alva of India, a strong advocate of affirmative action for women states that:
"women should avoid restricting themselves to 'women's issues' and should garner the support of their male counterparts".

Syeda Begum Sjeda Chowdhury of Bangladesh says: "A woman political leader must be in for the long haul." She recognises that women must be encouraged to be more independent and self-reliant, and that social norms and cultural values need to be re-oriented".

Lois O'Donoghue of Australia, an Aboriginal politician says "that she has been on an impossible journey" and that she "confronts difficult situations with logic and humour" as well as "a commitment to all-out effort".

Sylvette Frichot of Seychelles:
"Women in politics must have inner strength and must be ready to make personal sacrifices", and develop qualities such as "commitment" and "dedication to larger objectives".