The Gambia has though made some notable improvements in
promoting gender equity in recent times, nonetheless, the reality remains that
majority of Gambian women continue to play a subservient role in voting for and
not standing up to be voted for.
“There is a significant number of
women holding key leadership positions; but there is a need for
participation in decision making to change the discriminatory practices that
continue to marginalize women and increase their poverty and subordination”
Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang the first women who was elected into the parliament
during the first republic.
Despite locals laws that call for
women participation in politics in the society, women are still under
represented in the political field as only few individuals are benefitting.
“There is a significant number of
women holding key leadership positions; but there is a need for
participation in decision making to change the discriminatory practices that
continue to marginalize women and increase their poverty and subordination”
Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang the first women who was elected into the parliament
during the first republic.
Despite locals laws that call for
women participation in politics in the society, women are still under
represented in the political field as only few individuals are benefitting.
“There is need for us to take
charge of our destiny,’ she said stressing the low participation of women in
the parliament. “We want a fair representation in parliament and not two or
three” she said
She was speaking at a workshop
organised by GAMCOTRAP at Nematoulie Lodge in Brikama West Coast
region 17 March 2014 . The workshop brought together women
leaders from different political parties, political partners, youth and the
media.
The project,
‘Promoting Effective Participation of Women in Governance and Leadership
Positions’ seeks to enhance awareness and consciousness about the need
for women’s participation in governance and decision making processes in the
Greater Banjul Area.
Organized
by GAMCOTRAP, It also aims to engage the media to build public confidence
in the election of women in political positions. It is funded by National
Endowment for Democracy (NED).
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| Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang |
The gender inequality in the society
according to Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang limits the participation of women in
politics, which poses a threat in the socio-economy development of the country.
“Women don’t have that confident to participate because of perceived roles of
women continue to be marginalize in the political sphere.”
Political Hypocrisy
“This is not party affairs but to
empower women on their political rights to be voted in key positions,” said Dr
Isatou Touray, Executive director of GAMCOTRAP.
“Women participation in the
political sphere will shape the lives of women, the struggle to ensure the
equality and equal opportunity for women. We cannot have change if we don’t
have effective women in parliament.” She said
Out of the 54 parliamentarian in the
National Assembly only 4 are women and this according to Dr Touray will only
make little impact on the lives of Gambian women. “Numbers matters,” she said.
‘Saying that we have many women in government positions is not enough but also
making decision of their own for the benefits of all women.”
She noted, “Awareness on the
importance of women’s participation in the democratic process to promote the
participation of women in governance and leadership can break the
chain of male dominance in participating in the administrative life of our
country and not reducing to mere political propaganda tools.”
In 2008 she said, Open Society
Initiative in West Africa (OSIWA) supported GAMCOTRAP to create awareness on
women’s political participation and leadership from a gender perspective.
“The outcome of the sensitization
activities resulted to participation of more women in their various political
parties.It created a very good momentum throughout the country, where women
were motivated to compete at the Local Government Level and 15 out of 20
aspirants won the elective positions” Dr Touray said
