Source: Foroyaa Newspaper
From 18 – 21 March, 2014 at Workshops on promoting women's participation in governance and leadership positions, organized by GAMCOTRAP and supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) In the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region. Presentations were made by Dr Isatou Touray, Mrs Mary Small, Amie Sillah and a representative of the National Council for Civic Education.
In her presentation Mrs Amie Sillah spoke from the Perspective of a Personal Experience and as a PDOIS Party Central Committee Member
In the Gambia men outnumber women in all governance and political structures as currently only 6 out of 20, 30% cabinet members are women including the Vice President but the number keeps fluctuating due of lack of security of tenure; 4 elected and one nominate out of 53, 9% National Assembly Members are women.
Men also grossly outnumber women in key public service decision making positions. There are no female governor, no female chief and only 5 female heads of villages out of 1873 village heads, women participation seems largely limited to the ward and village development committee levels.
Legal Provisions National laws call for equalityof men and women and therefore women have the right to participate in any election.Section 4 of the Gambia Constitution states that, the constitution of the land (the Gambia) and any other law found to be inconsistent with any provision of the Constitution, shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be null and void.
Section (25) subsection (1E) states that: "Every person shall have the right to Freedom of Association which shall include Freedom to form and join associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions.Section (26) of the constitution provides that every citizen of full age and capacity shall have the right without unreasonable restriction: - to take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen representatives; -to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office which elections shall be universal and equal and be held by secret ballot.
Section (39) of the Constitution states that: every citizen of the Gambia being 18 years or older and of sound mind shall have the right to vote for the purpose of elections of a President and Members of the National Assembly.
Every citizen of the Gambia who is a registered voter shall be entitled to vote in a referendum held in accordance with the Constitution or any other law.
Section (28) of the Gambia Constitution states:
Women shall be accorded full and equal dignity with men
Women shall have the right to equal treatment with men including equal opportunities, political, economic, and social activities
Women's Act 2010, Government shall provide legal aid, support to ensure equal protection and promotion for women
Ensure that law enforcement organs at all levels are equipped to effectively interpret and enforce gender equality
Every woman is entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinion and receive and impart ideas and information without interference.
In Addition to the constitutional provisions, the Women's Act 2010 clearly articulates the legal provisions of the National Policy for the advancement of women and girls in the Gambia. The Gambia has ratified a number of important international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)., the Maputo Protocol; these and other international instruments help to strengthen the national legal instruments that protect and support the rights of women. De Jure women are protected but what about the De Facto impediments? Illiteracy, cultural and religious beliefs, lack of courage and confidence, the election of money and patronage, low level of awareness, less opportunity to contest in elections, lack of adequate presence of women in key decision making positions and inadequate information on political issues; intimidation and threats from state and non state actors; male dominated structures of political parties are pushing women out rather than pulling them in to achieve equal participation.
Despite all these the Constitution recognizes personal law on issues like marriage, inheritance, child parenting etc which are the key areas where discrimination against women occurs. How can we as a nation and people combat the De facto and make the De Jure a reality? Factors Enhancing Effective and Efficient Participation - Increasing number of educated women - Increasing financial situation to strengthen women - Improving and increasing number of organizations standing for gender equality and empowerment - Improving legal environment - Affirmative political action to introduce the Quota System and Proportional Representation to ensure every vote counts in Constitutional and Electoral reforms also to ensure security of office tenure for the umpires of the Electoral Process - Increasing source of disseminating information - Increasing regional and global concern for gender equality and empowerment PDOIS Political Party Structure PDOIS sees the party as a school for nurturing and conscientising the sovereign woman who is mature and conscious of her rights and responsibilities.
PDOIS's Constitution Chapter 12, creates a Bureau for Women and Children Affairs which is responsible for promoting gender sensitivity and child development. It functions under the general direction and control of the Central Committee.
The Bureau conducts: research on marriage and family life with a view to formulating policies that would free family members from all forms of negligence, cruelty and exploitation;
(a) operates social institutions to counsel adults, youth and children on all social problems;
(b) manages services such as nurseries and other institutions which shall offer children full opportunity to develop their abilities to the fullest and promote their intellectual, physical, emotional and behavioral growth;
(c) monitors all activities of all social institutions and programmes affecting all sectors of society and legislation that have social implications on men, women, youth and children.
Method of Selecting Candidates
Method of selecting candidates is transparent.
"Presidential Candidate shall be chosen through primaries held in each administrative region. The person who receives the highest number of votes cast by members in various administrative regions shall be the Party's Candidate.
Delegates represent equal number of men and women." Candidates for National Assembly Elections shall be determined by delegates (equal number of men and women) in each constituency in consultation with the members of the Central Committee. Women are being trained in Mentoring and Leadership skills and are being encouraged to vie for elective office.
PDOIS abhors the politics of money and patronage which disfavors women. RECOMMENDATIONS -Civic education in schools and all institution of learning about Gender and Women Rights.
The public radio and television to take the lead; -the post of nominated members to be filled by proportional representation; -half the positions in the National Assembly, Municipality and area councils to be filled by first past the post and the rest by proportional representation; -position of Women and Children Affairs to be filled through consultation with Women Associations; -gender balance in filling the position of President and Vice President;
My Personal Experience I stood as a PDOIS candidate in two elections in the First Republic in 1992 and the Second Republic in 2005. My votes increase in the latter even though I did not win but was able to get my deposit back. If there was Affirmative Action as included in the 2010 Women's Act I would have won because I got my deposit but in First past the Post I lost. More women will get into parliament if the present government acts on Affirmative Action.
The Feminist Movement in The Gambia gave me solidarity and provided me with both material and human resources; my campaign was well organized, animated, issues were discussed, traditional entertainers created educative songs and we really enjoyed ourselves; there was entertainment and there was education.
The men in my party were my chief campaigners; men young, middle age and old took me to visit influential men and women in nukes and corners of the constituency we have no money to give but we gave them knowledge and information about their country and gave them importance which was well appreciated.
The women too have their turn as they took me around to discuss issues with influential women and men.
To win elections we need to empower the people with knowledge and information which is power, then they will not be intimidated or coerced against their will. Nobody has ever intimidated me because I am as firmed as the Northern star and did arm myself with knowledge, show respect to everyone even my opponent.
Another sister stood because according to her she was ejected by her party's selection committee, she being very brave decided to stand as Independent. I supported her and as a journalist I interviewed and prayed for her, we compared notes and reinforced each other, feminist solidarity. We both got our deposits despite facing an entrenched incumbent who did everything to win.
This was a demonstration of feminist courage even though our combined votes would not have beaten him but we did try. That is the future of the Gambia we left a legacy and history has recorded it. Let us have hope that we are the people who can make our nation the Gambia great and mighty.
Let us embrace and celebrate diversity and recognize that as women we have our commonality (common ground), our differences which should be respected, our specificities which is God (Allah) given and our divergences which is our choice and should also be respected.