By Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Nationality and Citizenship Amendment Bill 2020 has been tabled at the National Assembly as members of parliament kicked-off the 2021 Ordinary Session – brought by the house select committee on Health, Women, Children, Disaster and Humanitarian Relief.
Honorable Sulayman Saho, a member of the committee said: “standing order (69) request that the committee not to discuss the principal of the Bill with it details in terms of the clauses of the Bill, it is thus mandated as follows. To list out witnesses of all proceedings and take evidences from witnesses, record the opinion of the committee on each clause and apprehend any amendment recommended.”
“To present Amendment Bill in order of which it stand report in the bill report in cooperating of the summary evidence of witnesses’ opinion of the committee and attach relevant record of military of its proceedings. Methodology since clause (61b) requires the committee at the committee stage to engage in detail investigation when considering a bill adding that committed to it a select committee call witnesses from identified institution and organization, this was when and after provided with a copy of the bill ask to review and present a written document,” he stated.
He said, after holding formal meetings with stakeholders, government, ministries, departments, agencies and non-government organizations and civil societies to present and discuss their written reports in conveying the report and conclude the report in validity.
On to that, he said nationality and citizenship Amendment Bill 2020, is an act to review and amendment the provision of the labour act found to be discriminatory against women, girls in The Gambia
He said the importance of the international obligation is in line with the constitution for connection matter enacted by the president at the national assembly.
Adding that repeal of section (9) which read for the purpose of this section a woman who has been married shall be deem of full age.
“Objects and reasons this amendment is the first of its kind in Africa for being the trail blazer for the revolution observant and domestication of international obligation, of commits and commitments relating to rights of women into domestic laws. Since the enactment of women act in 2010 significant strikes have been made to enforce the law in line with provision of the act.
According to him Section (29 -25) of the women act, recognize the need for periodic review of legislative – every ten years to ensure further compliance without international obligation as a shrine in the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW).
He said protocol of the African charter on human rights for the rights of women in Africa to the protocol adding that this amendment bill intended to repeal the provision of this act that are discriminatory against women as mandate of the women’s act.
