A Critical and Comparative Analysis of Political Empowerment/Representation / in Promoting Gender Equality in Gambella Regional State

Despite the limited improvements made by very few countries, gender inequalities are on the increase in the developing countries, including Ethiopia. On the other hand, representation of women and inclusion of their perspectives and experiences into the decision-making processes can have social benefits, better and more appropriate social, political, legal, and economic solutions for their problems. Economic and social empowerment of women is greatly reliable on their integration into the political decision-making process through their involvement in the political and public offices. Women can enjoy their political and civil rights through political representation and/or participation in the public life, as ensuring women’s political participation can bring legitimacy to the government and, validity and trustworthiness of democracy and democratic process by the public and stakeholders. The purpose of this study is to assess the status of women’s political empowerment / representation in the public and political decision-making positions in the Gambella regional state of Ethiopia so as to suggest appropriate policy options towards the achievement of effective gender equality in the region. The study showed that women had never been represented in the national legislative and executive branches of the Ethiopian federal government. Cumulatively, this research had found that the political empowerment, representation or participation of men and women in the legislative, executive, and judiciary a