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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Nov 2009 : 19:15:23
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Daily News Editorial - As Beijing + 15 Review Is Under way:Women Empowerment Is Not All
There are lots of praise-singings about what Gambia as a country achieved over the years in the empowerment of women at the current Eighth Africa Regional Conference on women at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. The Permanent Secretary at the office of the Vice President was quoted saying that President Jammeh is the number one advocate for women’s advancement and the attainment of gender equality, not only through official means but at personal level. This is a fact which is evident for all to see.
The speakers went further to articulate the numerous high positions held by our women folk. The Vice president, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and hosts of other ministerial positions are held by women. The PS at the office of the vice president did indicate that some deputy managing directors and director generals are also women. She also said we now have women serving as Ambassadors, and some are in other decision making bodies. The list continues to the service sector and even at the village level where some village heads are women.
Yes, one has to commend the government of the Gambia for allowing our women folk to hold such high positions and also to let them be in decision making position as indicated in the PS’s speech. We should not be complacent with that as be it all, as far as the empowerment of women is concern. No!!!! What one needs to ask is this, what percentage of our women folk are we talking of?
It is definitely a very small number of people we are talking about. Yes we needed our women folk to go up to such higher, and decision-making positions but the large number of the women folk needs much better improvements.
The fact of the matter is that 50% of our populations are women but they are most vulnerable, over burdened, marginalized and disadvantaged politically, socially and economically. This was revealed at a gender audit validation workshop at the Paradise Suite Hotel in September of this year. That report contradicts what many of our politicians and others believe. The report, which was commissioned by Action Aid the Gambia was a result of a consultancy awarded to Dr. Isatou Touray of the GAMCOTRAP as lead consultant. The report indicates that fewer women occupy decision making positions than men and they have significantly lower literacy rates than men, whiles girls have much lower school enrollment rates at secondary level and beyond. Many girls drop out after completing their primary education, although in recent years, there have been improvements in this area.
However, what is more important here is the holistic approach to empowering our women folk in general. The elevation of the women into higher position will not make a general change in the life of our women. The women should continue to have proper education and access to health facilities, and above all, since majority of them are farmers; the availability of markets for their farm products should be a priority of every African government. Many of them die during the period giving birth which should also be a matter of concern to our governments. It should be high time for our government to be told the fact; this question of trying to please our leaders should be a thing of the past. Generally, the majority of the Gambian women need more improvement than what some are trying to portray. They are not better off, than any in the region.
Source: Daily News
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