Jabou & co.
The Gambia government's so called women's empowernment gesture is mere
tokenism because the neccesity of empowering women is the new international
agenda. For this reason, the Jammeh government cannot afford to plot this
grand deception. The fact that a large contingent of women were sent to the
Bejing+5 meeting does not detract from the fact that these are a group of
women in fraternity with the government to pursue an elitist/government
agenda.
Again, the high number of women in public office has not impacted on the lives
of the mass suffering Gambian women. THeir antecedents since coming to office
is a reflection of what they truly are. What did they do when a young girl was
raped by an agent of the state? Did we hear them condermn this heirious crime?
What was their reaction when school children were murdered by the agents of
the state? We heard some of them when they blamed the victims. We also heard
how they blamed the victims Mothers' for being irresponsible parents, that
they brought up children who could demonstrate against the government.
Tombong and his sponsors should realise that women empowerment is not about
the number of female bodies occupying public offices. Women empowerment is
about equity and sensitivity to the plight of suffering women who derserve a
responsible and accountable government not murderers.
The Struggle Continues!!!!
Ndey Jobarteh
Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Well tombong,
They empower women but then they shoot our children in the street, and abuse
the civil rights of our citizens who were brought into this World by women.
Where is the logic?
Jabou joh
In a message dated 6/6/00 6:20:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Mr. Nordam,
This not a new strategy. The APRC has been very clear when it comes to the
empowerment of women. If you would recall, the APRC was the only political
party to field in a female candidate during the last National Assembly
elections. The Jammeh Administration has always placed progress of women as
top priority in its development agenda. The Gambia has made such progress in
the status of women that it was ranked first in the number of women in at
senior governmental decision-making levels, including the Vice President.
(UNICEF's PROGRESS OF NATIONS 1997). The report noted that 19% 0f
ministerial-level post, both elected and appointed, are currently held by
women, compared with only 14% in the US, and 7% World wide.
This is what the APRC Manifesto has to say about women:
The need to unlock the creative potential and tap fully the productive
capacities of women must occupy an exalted position in our development
programme. The economic role of women must be fully recognised and their
participation as equal and indispensable partners in our development efforts
would be accorded due emphasis.
Our policies would be slated to a measurable extend towards empowering women
in the areas of agriculture, business, services, marketing and other
identifiable spheres of female endeavour and assist in improving their
entreneurial skills. No truly national development programme would be
successful without the full participation of women and, in recognition of
this, the APRC would continue the policy of appointing highly qualify and
capable women into positions of authority in public administration.
Women hold the following positions:
1. The Vice President
2. Secretary General
3. Secretary of State for Tourism
4. Secretary of State for Education
5. Accountant General
6. Auditor General
7. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
8. Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Health
9. Permanent Secretary, Office of The Vice President
10. Chief Executive of the Royal Victoria Hospital
11. Managing Director of the MDI (Management Development Institute)
12. The Director of Press, Office of The President
PEACE
TOMBONG
>>
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