FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Isatou Bittaye
9 July 2009
The coordinator of Forum for African Women Educationalists (Gambia) -FAWEGAM, Mrs. Yadicon Njie Eribo, has said that the full measure of the contributions of women in sustainable development could never be realized until gender inequalities are systematically and completely addressed.
Mrs. Njie Eribo was speaking at a sub-regional meeting on gender, sustainable development and tourism on Tuesday, at the Paradise Suites Hotel, organized by ASSET, in partnership with Banesto Cultural Foundation in Spain.
She added that there is a widely held view that any development process that excludes the full participation of half of its subjects could neither be efficient not sustainable.
Mrs. Njie Eribo stated that a complementary view postulates that gender in general and the well-being of girls and women must be central to any development process for it to be fair, democratic and sustainable. She further said that women must be involved in bringing about development and should at least in part be the subject of development in order to bring to bear their useful contribution.
The FAWEGAM coordinator noted that education and training of women and gender equity are also relevant to every single call for action from the Dakar Action Plans to the Education for All (EFA) framework for Action, the MDGs and the Jomtien.
Mrs. Njie Eribo said that the 2005 goals to eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005 has been mostly achieved but however noted that much work remains to be done in the area of quality of the education girls receive and completion. She disclosed that there still remains gender biases in curriculum development and the steering of girls from traditionally reserved fields and preferences for boys like science, engineering and technology. She said 2015 remains a realistic target for achieving gender equality in education and registering 50% improvements in levels of adult literacy of women but noted that we must improve on the current pace.
Madam Njie Eribo further said that according to UNICEF, educated girls are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers, have greater potential to avoid intergenerational poverty, practice improved and informed sexual and reproductive health choices and are also more likely to participate in the democratic process. She said when women acquire literacy, numeracy and life skills; they make informed choices regarding the development of their girl children.
Mrs. Njie Eribo echoed that women who have received training in conflict resolution are contributing to peace building and the prevention of conflicts and that they are helping to destroy the production, proliferation and use of small arms.
According to Yadicon Njie, in West African societies, women continue to be the primary givers of care for children in early life and for the structuring of the foundational attitudes and precepts that are used later in life for social competition and that due to the indifference of women or the outright support for several of the harmful practices several social problems ailing girls have been so intractable to reset.
Madam Njie Eribo indicated that historically women have demonstrated their capacity and power as change agents and as long as we remain interested and maintain the dialogue for social change and apply adequate talents and resources for the empowerment of girls and women, the process will eventually lead to the attainment of gender equity.
She further concluded that women remain irrevocably committed to the development of girls and women, and their full relevance and participation in sustainable development.
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