‘Women representation across board in Africa, a possibility’

Sequel to the under-representation of women across professions and leadership positions in Africa, a new movement, ‘Difference She Makes’, has evolved to right the wrong in the interest of the continent.

Ines Ritayisire Umurerwa, who signed a statement titled “Transformation, not tokenism: a cultural shift for law and justice through women in leadership” on behalf of the movement dominated by women lawyers, said the movement has already garnered more than six million people across Africa, driving a cultural shift within the continent’s legal and justice sectors and enabling women in law to enter, grow and thrive in leadership roles.

“Reports that include those from the International Bar Association show a significant rise in the number of women entering the legal profession across Africa. However, leadership opportunities have not kept pace with the increasing number,” the statement says.

Although Umurerwa admitted that Africa has made progress through gender-responsive policies in law firms, the public sector and the judiciary, she also said women remain under-represented at senior and decision-making levels.

“Even where representation exists, cultural norms and entrenched biases limit women’s advancement. This has proved a formidable challenge and created a gap which ‘Difference She Makes’ targets to close up through promotion of institutional accountability and driving cultural shifts that enable, equip and empower women across generations to thrive,” she said.

According to Umurerwa, the pan-African movement, founded this year, has already highlighted stories of individuals and institutions that have promoted gender equality, even as it has also exposed cultural, normative and systemic barriers that hinder women from entering and excelling in the legal profession.

“Notwithstanding the background, these barriers have often prevented women from accessing meaningful leadership and decision-making roles, even in the face of various progressive policies,” she also said.

‘Difference She Makes’, which operates as a multi-platform initiative, derives identity from intergenerational dialogue, storytelling, art, culture and solidarity. But despite functioning mainly in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, its network across Africa has grown beyond the three countries, especially as the programmes are designed to engender regional resonance and shared learning across Africa.

Umererwa said: “This campaign is a timely intervention, especially because as women continue to gain entry into the legal profession in greater numbers, so is their leadership constrained by persistent structural and cultural challenges.”

Irene Kerubo, a member of the movement, said the law provides for resistance to gender inequality, just as narratives and movements that push against cultural resistance to progressive policies have since become a hot subject for discussion at different fora.

“It is for this reason that the movement evolved the phrase “transformation over tokenism”, which signifies moving beyond symbolic representation to meaningful participation and influence, as well as promoting institutional accountability rather than placing the burden solely on individuals. The myth that gender equality has been achieved would also be challenged with the highlighting of the prevailing structural and cultural obstacles,” Kerubo said.

Susan Musambaki, an advocate, said ‘Difference She Makes’ exemplifies a collective voice to make legal spaces more inclusive and reflective of women’s leadership. This is especially so as the movement is powered by leading legal voices and partner organisations committed to advancing women’s leadership in law. These include Linda Kasonde, Zambia’s first female Bar Association president; young Nigerian lawyer, Becky Dike; South African human rights lawyer, Tamika Thumbiran; retired Judge Mohini Moodley and Kenyan Advocate of the High Court, Natasha Ali Errey, all of whom constitute a new generation of leaders in Africa. There are also partners and platforms such as Legally Clueless, Drunken Lectures, Nalafem and East Africa Media Group, among others and around whom the movement is building a continent-wide coalition for real and lasting change.

Ntombi Nkosi, a South African journalist, said ‘Difference She Makes’ is a commitment to ensure that women in law are not only just included, but also visible, respected and celebrated. Nkosi drew her remark from the initiatives that the movement has so far undertaken, which include elevating and amplifying women’s stories, advocacy from a pan-African to global level, bringing together women, allies and key decision-makers to engage openly on issues that are often overlooked or avoided and fostering regular engagements between lawyers and journalists towards fostering a common front in protecting the interest of professional women in Africa.