“Women are usually not encouraged to participate in politics simply because they are seen as weak”.

Women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy. It facilitates women's direct engagement in public decision-making process and is a means of ensuring better accountability to all citizens. This begins with increasing the number of women in decision-making processes and leadership positions. Women’s political participation and good governance should be participatory, responsive, equitable and inclusive for all.

In addressing the underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions at the community level, UNFPA The Gambia in partnership with Maa Foundation with funds from Peace Building conducted a 3-day regional consultation in preparation for the April 2023 local government elections. The regional consultations were conducted in 7 regions with community leaders, religious leaders, women-led organizations, village development councils (VDCs), and youth organizations. This consultation fostered community engagement and dialogue on the importance of women in political processes and the need to achieve a truly inclusive democracy. This process resulted in recording the highest ever number of aspiring female candidates, and the highest ever number of women to be elected in the local government election: 58 women received nominations for 120 local council positions, of which 17 women won seats.

Honorable Sirah Sabally was among those 17 successful candidates. According to her, she has encountered numerous challenges since starting her political career in 2018, because she was seen as weak and not up to the political task ahead. She believes this was because of the constructed social norms she found herself facing. Especially in a society where women are urged to keep silent and not to speak at the same table as men; Sirah wanted to embark on a political journey, as she believed her community needed a change.

“As a woman I believe I will be able to relate to the needs of other women, I am of the opinion that when women lead, change is inevitable. Therefore, I want to ensure I develop my community by providing proper educational system, streetlights along the roads” she said.  She calls on women to join the political journey and not just to clap, sing and dance in cheering men, but to also take the bold step to partake in decision-making processes.

The roles that men and women play in society are not biologically determined. They are socially determined, changing and changeable. Therefore, UNFPA The Gambia is committed to promoting women’s participation in politics by giving them the opportunity to fullfill their potential. We want to empower more women like Sirah, who conquered the odds and climbed the leadership and political ladder.

Media contact:

Faith Ememodo- Communications Associate, UNFPA The Gambia ememodo@unfpa.org