Low turnout hinders TANGO political forum

The Association of Non-Government Organisation (TANGO) was yesterday forced to postpone a day-long consultative meeting with political parties on women’s representation and participation in politics, due to a low turn-out of representatives of political parties.

The meeting was organized by TANGO in collaboration with the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies and the African Capacity Building organisation.

It was, among others, expected to discuss women’s representation and participation in next year’s parliamentary and local government elections, presentation and discussion of party proposals and measures, proposals and development of resolutions on women’s representation by parties and stakeholders, as well as a signing of resolutions by parties and stakeholders solely to promote women in the decision making process.

“Since some of the members are not here, it will not be fair for us to proceed and, on that note, we would like to announce with regret that we cannot proceed,” Yankuba Dibba, board chairman TANGO said, adding that TANGO will explore extra means in engaging the political parties.

Madi Jorbateh, programme coordinator TANGO, said his office would work with the political parties by obtaining there manifestoes and constitutions to particularly look at gender and women’s issues in addressing the challenges and gaps, at a retreat in order to come up with political solution.

The agenda of the meeting, among others, was discussion by political parties on women’s representation and participation; presentation and discussion of party proposals and measures; discussion on proposals and development of a resolution on women’s representation by parties and stakeholders, as well as a signing of a  resolution by parties and stakeholders solely to promote women in the decision-making process.