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grieving nation. It brought shocked give birth during her premiership One of the primary indicators for the
New Zealanders together after the (the first being the late Benazir success of the UN millennium goal
horrific terrorist attack on a mosque Bhutto of Pakistan). The very public to “promote gender equality and
in March 2019. When others would challenges she has faced juggling empower women” is the “proportion
talk of vengeance and retribution, such a high profile job and being a of seats held by women in national
their youngest ever Prime Minister, new mother has endeared her to parliament”. Achieving gender
Jacinda Ardern, reminded people voters, especially women. equality and empowering all women
2
that the victims were fathers and and girls also forms an important
mothers, brothers and sisters, Values such as compassion that part of the sustainable development
daughters and sons ... and above once shouted weakness now look to goal 5 (SDG 5).
all, New Zealanders. be a strength in the face of the anger
and fear whipped up by populist So how are we doing with SDG
demotic leaders elsewhere. Ardern 5? Women in MENA continue to
British newspaper reporting
embodies the fact that embracing face numerous obstacles towards
on Ardern’s speech
compassion and kindness are ways achieving anywhere near parity
Max Rashbrooke, writing in to build stronger communities, a in elected legislative bodies.
1
Prospect magazine last year, found stronger nation, a more resilient MENA states have one of the
that Ardern’s greatest impact on the society and, in time, economy. lowest rates of women’s political
political landscape in New Zealand representation2at 18% compared
Could politics change? Why do so
has been in the realm of emotion. to the global average at 22%.
As only the second female ever to many hardliners - usually male - get While the region continues to lag
into power and hang onto it with all
lead New Zealand, she also became behind with some of the lowest
only the second political leader to their might? And more importantly, percentages of women in national
do women support women in politics legislatures globally, (especially in
by actively voting for them? Qatar and Yemen with a staggering
0%) small steps are being made
To answer this, let’s take a look at
in some countries, especially in
what is happening in our region.
Algeria (31.6%), Morocco (17%),
Saudi Arabia (19.9%), and Tunisia
Women in politics in MENA
(31.3%).
In our region, women are under-
represented in politics and very far What are the main impediments to
female empowerment and political
from reaching gender parity.
representation in MENA? Could
it be indifference? The existence
of ‘guardianship’? Male authority

7 year, Issue 26, Mar - May 2020 www.MiddleEast-Business.com
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