The
chairperson of the National Youth Council has underscored the role of young
people in decision-making, indicating that their decision now as young people
is to move way from consultation to active involvement and participation in the
decision making process.
Dembo
Kambi was speaking on Friday at the start of a two-day advocacy seminar for
National Assembly Members on the inclusion, participation and representation of
women, youth and people with disabilities held at the NaNa conference hall. It
was organized by Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
The
seminar, which brought together lawmakers, was meant to discuss issues relating
to inclusion, participation and representation of youth, women and people with
disability with the wider objective of enhancing the political space so as to
strengthen democracy and good governance.
Kambi
argued that consultations are mere formalities but involvement is integral,
saying often times people talk about consulting the young people, but more
often when they are consulted, their views are never respected.
“We
want to be part of those making decisions. We want to be at the table and not
on the table to be discussed. This is what can pave the way for the development
of this country,” he said
He
disclosed that young people make up about 68% of the country’s population and
based on this figure, they shouldn’t be exempted from key decision making.
Mr
Kambi maintained that youth, women and persons with disabilities are the first
and last causalities in any form of conflict, thus their active participation
and involvement in decision making processes speaks volumes in the way a
country determines her future.
“Young
people are very important in any meaningful development in any country. And
issues that affect them, makes us to know the better ways to solve those
problems. This event is very important as its talks about all inclusion,
involvement and participation of women, youth and persons with disability in
all sectors of the decision making, policy making in this country”.
Muhammed
Krubally, chairperson of The Gambia Federation of the Disabled, said one of his
Federation’s objectives is to advocate for the rights for persons with
disabilities so as to ensure that the fundamental rights of the disabled are
protected and promoted.
“Our
objective is ensure that we empower persons with disabilities so that we can
live the life we want and to also showcase our talent and prove beyond doubt
that disability is not the characteristic that defines who the persons with
disabilities are,” he added.
Also
speaking, Madi Jobarteh, country representative of Westminster Foundation for
Democracy, noted that in pursuit of his foundation’s objective of supporting
The Gambia in strengthening democracy and building structures for democratic
dispensation, the idea of coordinating an accountable and inclusive democracy
is essential.
Rohie
Bittaye-Darboe, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and
Social Welfare said that to enable youth, women and people with disability
participate in politics, it is necessary to build capacity and contacts through
mentorship programs, networking opportunities and providing financial support.
She
observed that it is also important to provide girls and boys with disabilities
with free access to good quality inclusive education and opportunity to develop
their skills and talent to the best of their ability.
Representing
the Speaker of National Assembly, Kebba Barrow, Majority Leader and Member for
Kombo South, urged partners in development to include women, youth and persons
with disabilities in all activities and programs that would ensure that there
would be a smooth running democratisation process in the country
He
thanked the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for organising such an
important forum, which he said, would help in the smooth running of the
democratisation process in the country.
