It
is time for women to trust and have confidence in female candidates who opt for
election in their respective constituencies, to increase female participation
in decision making processes, said Bintou Fatty-Joof, programme officer at
Brikama Women’s Bureau.
Mrs
Fatty-Joof made this remark yesterday while deputising for the executive
director of the Women’s Bureau, during the opening ceremony of a seminar on
women and youth participation in politics, held at the NaNA conference
hall.
It
was organised by the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) and funded by
UNDP under the Election Project for The Gambia, 2016-2018, electoral
cycle.
The
daylong seminar brought together representatives from political parties, youth
organisations, institutions, NGOs among other stakeholders within Banjul and
KMC.
The
women’s activist said the countdown to the Gambia’s 2016-2017 general elections
has begun with a rare move to bring together female politicians from across the
divided political spectrum to ensure increased female representation.
Mrs
Fatty-Joof noted that GAMCOTRAP’s executive director, Dr Isatou Touray, has
launched a political campaign calling for political reforms to ensure the
effective participation of women in all positions of political leadership.
“Political
participation matters in the life of every individual human being, be it men,
women or youth,” she said, adding that gender equality in political and
decision-making is a fundamental aspect of modern democratic governance.
She
stated that under international standards, men, women, and youths should have
equal rights and opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of the
political sphere, and at all levels of political processes.
However,
the feminist said it is often more challenging for women to access and exercise
their rights due to the patriarchal nature of the society.
“African
women and youths are the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in the
political arena,” she said.
Alhaji
Sering Faye, NCCE chairman, said through their interactions with the citizenry,
it is evident that most young people have little or no interest in politics and
governance, thus their low participation in elections and high voter apathy
among them.
He
pointed out that although women are actively participating in politics, their
participation does not translate to their equal representation in political
offices as men.
“This
is because they are most active in organising, mobilising and campaigning for
men contesting for political offices, instead of running for political
offices,” Mr Faye said.
He
added that for democracy and good governance to be attained, there must be
inclusiveness and participation by the citizenry.
Having
more than half of the country’s population as women, who are not participating
effectively in political affairs, means the views and concerns of at least half
of the population are not represented, the NCCE chairperson said.
The
Gambia has ratified several international conventions that promote women’s
political participation and the 1997 Constitution has guaranteed the right to
political participation to everyone; yet women and youth representation in
decision-making bodies continues to be challenged.
The
NCCE chairman further stated that for sustainable economic and social
development to take place, full and equal participation of women, men, boys and
girls are required.
For
youths to be equitably represented in decision-making structures, it is
important that they change their attitude towards politics and perceive voting
as a civic duty that should be discharged by every responsible citizen, Faye
went on.
Lamin
Darboe, executive director of the National Youth Council, said youths and women
combined constitute more than 70 per cent of The Gambia’s population, “but
sometimes youths are not given their due to participate in politics”.
Mr
Darboe called on political parties to create offices for youths in their
bureaus, not just for the sake of decorating their bureaux but for youths to
effectively and fully participate in politics and decision-making.
“Youth
should not only be looked at as future leaders, but instead should be looked at
as good leaders,” he said.
He
told the youths that shying away from politics means surrendering their power,
adding that the youths should start taking decisions for themselves and not to
leave it to elders to always decide for them.
The
daylong seminar is part of nationwide activities to be conducted by the NCCE in
all regions of the country.
The
sensitization activity is aimed at enhancing knowledge on the importance of
women and youths participation in politics and elections, and representation in
decision-making institutions. At least
300 women and youths are expected to be sensitised nationwide.
