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Momodou
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 Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 16:50:20
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Document On Capacity Assessment For Women Validated
By Annia Gaye
The Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Madam Isatou Njie Saidy, has noted that women contribute a low percentage than men in public life, thus the attainment of MDG goal 3 remains a challenge. Madam Njie Saidy made these remarks at the validation of the capacity assessment for women in decision making processes held on the 13 and 14 February at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul. Madam Njie Saidy further noted that women, recently, have been given the opportunity to serve in decision making positions such as Vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly Members, Local Government Councillors and other positions held by women in the Private Sector.
She said it is therefore fitting to assist women in building their capacities, to ensure that they are marketable and up their rightful positions, thus the justification for this project. “The overall goals of the project is to support the attainment of MDG3-Gender Equality and the advancement of women in the Gambia,” she noted.
She further pointed out that the finding of the assessment revealed by the consultants show that women’s illiteracy, fear, male dominance, socio cultural barriers, limited capacity on advocacy and negotiations are among the contributing factors to women’s lack of participation in decision making. “As highlighted due to the heavy burden of work, particularly at the household level. some of the women indicated that, if only they have access to labour saving devices including water and garden tools, then they will make up for time to participate in decision making but are challenged by drudgery and/or time consuming work. Other issues raised included women’s lack of necessary qualifications, as candidates as well as poverty,” she said.
She expressed that the recruitment of a consultant for the capacity assessment exercise was to precede the implementation of some activities about women. She said that the objective of the assessment of women’s capacity gaps are to identify some of the reasons why women do not use their voting rights; that some other gaps include advocacy, negotiations and other necessary leadership skills as well as of the annual work plan.
Madam Njie Saidy dwelled on the participation of women in politics, noting that in the 2007 National Assembly elections only two women were voted into parliament, while the rest have been nominated by the president. She concluded by challenging participants to look closely at issues and recommendations to ensure that realistic and appropriate strategies are developed for effective implementation. “There will be a delay in national development, if half of the population is left behind her,” she concluded.
Delivering her statement, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, indicated that Gambian Women have been participating in national development at various levels in varied forms at a limited level. “We are informed that Gambian women are challenged due to many reasons, such as lack of Education, Poverty, Socio Cultural barriers and other issues” she said.
She mentioned that women are appointed or nominated for the first time to key decision making positions, noting that they have the longest serving female Vice President, and that women have held several positions such as Accountant General, Secretary of State, Judge, Speaker of the National Assembly, Entrepreneurs and so on.
“For other positions of appointment women also find it difficult to climb the ladder allowing more men to benefit from career development opportunities, making them better suited than women at both the public and private level. Women appointed to serve at the international level do also find it difficult to get the approval of their husbands or families to join them, thus creating further obstacles,” she said.
Other speakers include the Deputy Director Women’s Bureau, Mr. Lamin Ceesay and the UNDP resident representative, who also talked on issues affecting women and on decision making.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No 20/2008, 15 – 17 February 2008
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