By Yunus S Saliu
Releasing its Position Paper on the Election Bill 2021, the Election Watch Committee (EWC) which comprises Peace Ambassadors – The Gambia (PAG), Activista, National Youth Parliament (NYP), Think Young Women (TYW), Beakanyang, Peace Hub – The Gambia (PHTG), and The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) has revealed in the Election Bill 2021 report that the 2021 IEC Voter Register women form about 57% of the general voter population making them the largest group that participates in electing candidates.
He noted that women’s participation, particularly as candidates in the electoral cycle of the country is limited.
Explaining the position paper’s report, Ansumana Camara, Chairperson of EWC stated “According to EWC’s Councilor election report, out of the 367 aspirants that submitted their nominations, there were only 58 women aspirants, representing only 6% of the candidates. In the Mayoral and Chairperson election, out of 32 aspirants, only 2 were women, representing only 6.25% of the candidates that contested. The IEC report indicated that only (Banjul) out of 8 positions were won by women.”
He went on, The Gambia, a signatory to the Maputo Protocol which promotes the rights of women to participate in the political and decision-making process of their countries states in Article 9 (1) States Parties shall take specific positive action to promote participative governance and the equal participation of women in the political life of their countries through affirmative action, enabling national legislation and other measures to ensure that: a) women participate without any discrimination in all elections, and B) women are represented equally at all levels with men in all electoral processes.
On this, he said the EWC, however, recommended that political parties shall have at least thirty percent of women representation in their executive membership.
Meanwhile, In the position paper submitted to The Gambia National Assembly, eight concerns were raised with recommendations the eight concerns included the appointment of Chief Electoral Officer, qualifications for the position of electoral officer/chief electoral officer/commissioner, qualification for registration as a voter, disqualification from registration as a voter, return and forfeiture of deposit, special dispensation for voters on election duty, ballot tokens, and participation of political parties in elections.
The Chairperson said the appeal of the EWC is that the National Assembly should give The Gambia renewed hope in the election as the best tool for changing government, making laws that protect the integrity of the election, and its conduct can strengthen that hope!
However, “We urge the National Assembly Members to protect The Gambian interest and future, and this could be done where NAMs ensure the election bills reflect promises the Gambia government made by ratifying African Charter on Democracy Elections, and Governance (ACDEG) in 2018.
Therefore, he continued, “The EWC therefore provides its position on the Election Bill 2021 and makes recommendations on eight clauses and sections in the position paper. In some, EWC calls for the omission of some provisions, in others, it calls for the addition of or amendment to what is stated. The recommendations are based on best practices, and in charters, conventions, and guidelines our government through the National Assembly have signed and ratified.”
