Moreover, the initiative forms part of FLAG's project titled ‘Access to Justice and Enhancing Women's Political Participation.’
She spoke about the role of women in the country’s development journey, adding that despite women forming a significant bulk in the population, they occupy only 8% of the seats, just 5 out of 58.
She used the forum to remind all that when women with disabilities are excluded, democracy loses not only its voice, but its conscience.
‘‘As women, what we need are opportunity, preparation and courage. What we need most is a system that does not close the doors before we get knocking on them. But, while courage matters, individual bravery alone cannot fix the structural exclusion.’’
To that end, she argued that people cannot build women's political participation on sacrifices alone.
‘‘We must be protected by law. The Gambia has ratified the CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, both of which commit our country to ensure women's full and equal participation in political and in public life. But ratification alone is also not enough. These commitments must be domesticated, implemented and enforced,’’ she added.
She observed that equality in the constitution must translate into equality in representation and that people must have serious conversations about enforceable gender quotas, affirmative action, disability inclusion and political frameworks.
These, she said, should not be special favours, but rather they should be corrective measures to level an uneven playing field.
Across Africa, she observed that countries that have adopted quotas and affirmative measures have significantly increased women's representation and so their democracies are stronger because of that.
‘‘Democracy is not measured only by the holding of elections. It is measured by who can contest and win and govern. Women should not have to fight twice as hard just to be seen as capable. The system must change. Political parties must change. And our institutions must change.’
The Banjul South lawmaker also spoke about the widely held stereotype that continues to prevail and disallowing women to take up leadership position, arguing that ‘if half of the population remains underrepresented, then our democracy remains incomplete.’
‘‘Women should not have the right to fight twice as hard just to be seen as capable.’’
In light of this, she called on her fellow women to organise themselves and support one another and prepare the next generation.
She recalled that when she decided to run again in 2022, she did not think of herself, but rather she thought of the girl child in the village.
‘‘I thought of the young woman in the wheelchair watching parliament on TV. I thought of the mother who wants their daughters to believe that leadership was possible.’’
She affirmed that representation matters and women must be bold to step in and contest.
