DanChurchAid
Ethiopia
KMG is empowering Kembatta women
Women’s participation in decision-making at various levels in Ethiopia is one of the lowest in the world primarily because of the gender based traditional division of labor placing women in a disadvantaged position. Hence, women are responsible for all household chores and child-care in addition to the support they provide in agriculture and livestock production. It is typical for women to work 16-18 hours per day leaving no time for activities of social and political character.
Increasing the participation of women in political life
Funded by DanChurchAid, KMG has implemented a project around the 2005 national elections to increase the participation of women. The project had the following specific objectives:
- a. To increase the participation of women in political life at zonal and regional councils, and in the House of the Peoples’ Representatives.
- b. Women’s equity and equality to hold public offices and to participate in decision-making processes is realised at all levels in relation to politics and in relation to traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.
- c. Number of women candidates representing different political parties increased through sensitization and lobbying of the parties.
KMG is planning a follow-up to the 2005 election campaign for the 2006 local elections. In that process it has sent six women, who where denied running for office at the last election, to Kenya where they have shared experiences with elected parliamentarians from rural parts of the country.
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