Published by Enock Akonnor enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
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Banjul Mayor Malick Lowe writes…
I was invited to participate at the 10th European summit of regions and cities capacity lab – gender equality where I was asked to share my experiences on strategies and approaches to improve gender parity in politics.
It was all about the most effective strategies and approaches that can work for Africa to attain gender parity at the local level politics. I presented the case of Senegal where we have a 50/50 men-women representation at local elections which has given Senegal an almost 50% of women representation at the local level.
I further explain that in the Gambia, we have not reach there yet as I am still the only female mayor in my country and I am fighting tooth and nail to change things in order to improve gender parity in local politics. I informed the audience that I am in my second term in office and will I will do all it takes to change the status quo in order to improve gender parity in local politics in the Gambia. My advocacy point to the government of The Gambia is the same model used in neighboring Senegal which I think is the most effective model and is based on Legal Reforms.
The gender affirmative action bill passed in Senegal declared a 50/50 ratio. This implies that for any political party list to be considered for local elections, there must be 50 percent men and 50 percent women representation. This Quota System has greatly increased the number of women in local government in Senegal and I think it can work for many other African countries. It started through Advocacy by women led organisations that support grassroots movements advocating for gender equality that being the case Political Parties were forced to actively recruit and support female candidates.
Countries like The Gambia need to create and enforce laws that ensure equal representation of men and women in local politics.
