The Price of Exclusion How Gender Inequality Undermines Governance

This paper addresses the critical issue of how gender inequality undermines governance and limits a society's full potential [5, implicitly understood through the need for frameworks like CEDAW and Agenda 2063]. To counter this, gender-inclusive governance is introduced as the process of creating and maintaining systems of authority, decision-making, and resource distribution that actively promote the equal participation, representation, and empowerment of people of all genders. This involves addressing structural barriers and societal norms that exclude or disadvantage certain genders, particularly women and non-binary individuals, in governance systems.

The importance of gender equality in governance is strongly underscored by various international and regional frameworks, including the African Union's Agenda 2063, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). These frameworks collectively highlight that gender inequality undermines governance and that the full and equal participation of women in decision-making systems is not only a matter of rights but also a necessity for realizing a country's and a continent's full potential.