Pan-African campaign decries tokenism holding back women in law

A Pan-African movement is calling for a deep cultural shift across the continent’s legal and justice systems. The movement is warning that although women are entering the profession in unprecedented numbers, entrenched structural and cultural barriers continue to block their path to leadership. ALSO READ: Rwanda Bar Association pushes for more women lawyers According to the detailed document shared on December 9 by Difference She Makes, the movement has already reached more than six million people across Africa, sparking a continent-wide conversation on what genuine gender equity in law should look like. Despite Africa’s strong record on progressive legal frameworks and gender-inclusive policies, the gap between representation and influence remains wide. Reports, including those from the International Bar Association, highlight that although women now populate law schools, firms, and public institutions in significant numbers, the upper echelons of leadership remain dominated by men, with only some token appointments and positions being female. Even where women do ascend to senior positions, restrictive norms and entrenched power networks often undermine their authority and decision-making space. ALSO READ: Over 50% Rwandan judges are women – official Difference She Makes seeks to break this cycle, but not through symbolic gestures or token appointments. They are building institutional accountability for equitable systems that enable women to thrive across generations. The movement leverages storytelling, art, dialogue, and solidarity to challenge myths of achieved gender equity, and to expose the persistent undercurrents holding women back. “This campaign is a timely intervention. While women continue to enter the legal profession in record numbers, their leadership is still held back by persistent structural and cultural constraints,” said Irene Kerubo of Difference She Makes. “The campaign brings those realities to the surface, not simply to acknowledge the gaps, but to drive accountability and reimagine environments where women in law can lead and thrive,” she added. ALSO READ: Celebrating Rwanda's justice sector reforms: A journey towards citizen-centred rule of law With active engagements in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, and a Pan-African approach designed to foster shared learning, the movement continues to highlight how deeply cultural barriers shape women’s experiences, often more significantly than policy gaps. It partners with prominent voices and platforms such as Legally Clueless, Drunken Lectures, Nalafem, and East Africa Media Group to expand its reach and influence. Advocate Susan Musambaki emphasised the importance of collective voices in advancing change, noting, “Difference She Makes amplifies our collective voice to make legal spaces more inclusive and truly reflective of women’s leadership.” ALSO READ: Justice: What's new in upgraded integrated case management system? The movement’s ecosystem includes trailblazers such as Zambia’s first female Bar Association President Linda Kasonde, Nigerian lawyer Becky Dike, South African human rights advocate Tamika Thumbiran, retired judge Mohini Moodley, and Kenyan Advocate of the High Court Natasha Ali Errey. Each of these leaders contributes to documenting lessons learned, disrupting harmful norms, and nurturing an environment in which women’s leadership is recognised and respected. Visibility remains a central tenet of the movement’s work. South African journalist Ntombi Nkosi underscored this, emphasising, “This initiative is a commitment to ensure that women in law are not just included, but visible, respected, and celebrated.” ALSO READ: A look at Rwanda's proposed child-friendly justice system Several initiatives already underway illustrate the depth of the movement’s impact. Through Adelle Onyango’s award-winning Legally Clueless podcast, a pioneering journalist-lawyer fellowship, and an extensive digital storytelling series, Difference She Makes is exposing invisible barriers within Africa’s legal systems while spotlighting the women challenging them. The first podcast episode under this collaboration features Anne Ireri, Chief Executive Officer at the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya. At a policy level, the movement is partnering with NALAFEM to drive a coordinated Pan-African advocacy agenda. Regional convenings will bring together justice actors, civil society, and reform champions to examine evidence, share insights, and craft actionable recommendations. These conversations will feed into the global dialogue at the upcoming 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, ensuring that Africa’s experiences and innovations inform international justice reform. The “Off the Table, On the Record” series deepens this work by creating safe, intentional spaces for candid discussions about the unspoken realities affecting women in law. These sessions encourage honest reflection, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving, surfacing issues that formal institutions often overlook. ALSO READ: Chief Justice warns judges against using emotions in deciding cases The movement has also launched the Voice and Verdict Fellowship, a groundbreaking three-month Pan-African programme bringing together six journalists and legal professionals from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Through investigative storytelling, the fellows will examine themes such as tokenism, opaque power networks, and institutional bias. The legal cohort comprises Kenya’s Susan Musambaki, Nigeria’s Judith Anukie Ojovbo, and South Africa’s Mpho Mokgehle, while participating journalists include South Africa’s Ntombi Nkosi, Kenya’s Lucy Riley, and Nigeria’s Isioma Joseph Madike. As it continues to expand, Difference She Makes aims to build a continental coalition that not only recognises women’s contributions to the legal profession but also dismantles the cultural and institutional barriers preventing them from leading with full authority.

News

Pan-African campaign decries tokenism holding back women in law