Gender Analysis of the 6th General Election in Ethiopia

This report, "Gender Analysis of the 6th General Election in Ethiopia" , analyzes the participation of women in Ethiopia's 2021 general elections, identifying significant gender gaps despite legal frameworks promoting equality.

Key Findings:

• Voter Participation: Women constituted 50.2% of registered voters in the aggregated 6th National Election, but faced barriers like cultural prejudices, security issues, and insufficient voter education, especially in rural areas.
• Candidate Participation: Women made up only 20% of candidates nationally, with considerable regional disparities. This low representation is attributed to gender stereotypes, family burdens, financial constraints, and lack of education.
• Election Officials and Observers: While 50.6% of NEBE staff were women, representation at polling stations was inconsistent. Women comprised 51% of all election observers.
• Success Rates: Despite lower candidacy rates, women had a higher success rate, with 56% of female candidates winning seats compared to 22% of male candidates.
• Legal and Policy Framework: Ethiopia's legal framework guarantees women's political rights, but lacks specific gender quotas and robust enforcement mechanisms. Financial incentives for political parties to field female candidates were also inconsistently applied.
• Violence Against Women in Elections (VAW-E): 103 incidents of VAW-E were documented across the pre-election, election day, and post-election phases, with psychological violence being the most prevalent. The legal framework lacks explicit mention of VAW-E indicators, standards, or prevention/response mechanisms.
• Institutional Capacity: NEBE has established a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Department (GESID) and enacted gender-sensitive directives, but implementation challenges and resource limitations persist.

Recommendations:

The report suggests strengthening legal frameworks by introducing mandatory gender quotas and clear sanctions for non-compliance, enhancing women's electoral participation through expanded financial incentives and mentorship programs, and addressing VAW-E by establishing secure complaint mechanisms and training security forces. It also recommends strengthening voter education campaigns tailored for women, building NEBE's institutional capacity with a comprehensive gender policy and strategic planning support for GESID, and promoting accountability and transparency through regular publication of disaggregated data and independent audits. Finally, fostering cultural and social change through community engagement and partnerships with various institutions is crucial to challenge biases and promote women's roles in public life.