While individuals and opposition parties struggle for change in upcoming elections, I would like to bring to the attention of the masses the concerns I have as a media practitioner and a woman. What guarantee do we have that the mass media, Gambia Radio and Television Services - GRTS in this case will practice according to constitutional requirements for freedom of expressions, that is without discrimination based on gender, political affiliation, ethnicity or religion? That editors and producers have their professional say in what is broadcast and are not going to repeat the negatives points of censorship and fear of dismissal. According to IEC figures, most voters are women, about 75% of whom are illiterate, and the majority of these are women; will GRTS be used as a tool for enlightenment for the masses and not only a mouthpiece for those in power? The present situation may seem as tokenism, but it has brought to the attention of the masses that it is possible to have women as leaders in national affairs. Where will women stand when there is change? Are they going to be chosen as leaders with power, window dressing to mask gender politics or just as yai compines to be used as and when it suits the politicians? How will the selection processes of political parties ensure fair and sincere selection of eligible women to stand for municipal, chieftaincy and parliamentary or presidential elections? I do not think it is fair to have the example of Minatta Njie in the last parliamentary election. She had just finished school, young and inexperienced to stand for election, even though I admired her courage to take to the challenge. Are women’s concerns to their right to take informed decisions on family planning contraceptive use, to understand why they should not condone traditional practices such as early marriage, female genital mutilation, nutritional taboos for pregnant women, forced menopause, rape, and more recent phenomena such as HIV/AIDS, baby dumping, back-street abortion and a host of other concerns that affect them be left to the mercy of some men who are after their selfish interest no matter what women go through? Remember that at present, most oppositional views including so called sensitive issues are suppressed in GRTS programmes and are they going to do the same when the opposition are in power? Or we don’t want to risk our votes attitude is going to play? Is there going to be so much emphasis on revenge that priorities for the masses will be marginalized? And finally are commitment to policies and conventions be just a collection from conferences, workshops at long hours of meetings for academic exercises or implementation for the people on whose behalf they have been put together. As some of us recover from the Tabaski feast, these are issues to give consideration. With great concern, Amie Bojang-Sissoho. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------