By Nyima Sillah
Some women led groups have called on President Adama Barrow to use his constitutional powers and nominate more women in the National Assembly.
The groups call came after women representatives to parliament suffered lost in the just concluded National Assembly election that saw only three women elected out of nineteen contestants.
According to the groups, “the results of the election do not align with the important calls for equitable representation in our decision-making spaces, but instead widen the gap for minority representation, especially in the National Assembly. We recall the recent efforts for affirmative action in this regard, through the introduction of the Constitution Amendment Bill. This Bill sought to enlarge the composition of elected members of the National Assembly and institute fixed quotas for competent and qualified women and persons with disabilities, a necessary measure in the face of inequality and inequity in decision-making platforms in The Gambia.”
Last year, they stated, “women-led Civil Society Organisations led advocacy meetings with political party leaders, including you, to enlist support for this Constitution Amendment Bill and avoid meeting the same fate as the Draft Constitution. Despite our vigorous campaigns and direct advocacy efforts, this Bill failed to proceed due to a lack of quorum in the National Assembly on the second reading. The high hopes from minority groups in The Gambia were dashed, and the energy from the people whose rights would have been most protected by this Bill dwindled. It is without doubt that the successful promulgation of this Bill into law would have led to a different outcome for minority groups in the recently concluded parliamentary elections.”
The groups expected to see more positive results as far as minority representation is concerned, however, it is not too late. Your Excellency, we recall your pronounced commitments to ensuring that issues affecting women and other marginalised groups are adequately addressed, especially through the institution of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare,” the groups said.
“Whilst this commitment was not fully reflected in the selection of candidates by political parties, we believe that there is still an opportunity to close the wide gap. Your Excellency, Section 88(1)(b) of the 1997 Constitution provides you with the powers to nominate five members of the National Assembly, with the intention of ensuring representation for minority groups that may not have been elected to parliament. Given the failure of the Constitution Amendment Bill and the low number of women elected to the incoming parliament, we the undersigned strongly urge you to use these powers to bridge the wide gap and support efforts towards more equitable representation. We urge you to nominate these five representatives with due consideration to the low representation of gender, religious and disability minorities.
This will enhance inclusion and sense of belonging to especially minority groups who are most often forgotten or neglected. It is common knowledge that diverse representation is crucial to ensuring that no section of society is left behind. This is even more important in the National Assembly, where decisions will be made on policies that will affect all Gambians and people living in The Gambia,” the statement added.
“We have no doubt that there is a wealth of competence and experience within these minority populations that you can select your nominated National Assembly Members from. Your Excellency, we count on you to execute your constitutional powers of nomination in the interest of a more equitable society, a balanced representation to reflect our demographic realities, and a more cohesive approach to policy making and development in The Gambia. We count on you to remain true to your promises and commitment to the advancement of women, persons with disabilities and other minority groups in the country. As the President for all Gambians, Your Excellency, we call on you to exercise your constitutional powers in the interest of the underrepresented and marginalised, as we all strive to build a Gambia where everyone is treated as equal to the other, with no discrimination,” the groups continued.