On the occasion of International Women’s month, the March issue of the Monitor features an article by Dr Cecilia Nedziwe, who reflects on the status of women’s participation in key governance structures in Southern Africa. Continuing with this month’s theme, Katherine Bebington looks at female participation in politics in Africa and female participation in recent and upcoming elections in our second article.
The third article by Lennon Monyae and Bhaso Ndzendze stresses the importance of democratic renewal in Africa’s multi-election year in the context of the reemergence of unconstitutional changes of government in certain parts of the continent. In the fourth article, Asha Ali and Hafsa Maalim provide a summary of the UN Peace Operations & Human Rights report, which examines the critical role of human rights in peace operations. Finally, Kudakwashe Bandama looks at whether African Youth can play a leading role in defending democracy and working for change within constitutional democracies.