The Daily Observer (Banjul)
31 October 2009
editorial
Banjul — It is a common saying that behind every success there stands a woman. As society advances, this proverb has moved from being mere words to becoming established fact.
This, to a large extent could be explained by the fact that more agitations have been instigated for women's empowerment and the liberation of women from poverty, domestic oppression and exploitation. National economies and institutions came to realise more the relevance of womenÂ's involvement in development. Issues concerning women are hence integrated in the national policies and programmes.
From March 1st to 12th, 2010, government delegations attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women will yet again converge to assess progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), 15 years since it was adopted at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in 1995. The BPFA is considered the most comprehensive agenda for womenÂ's empowerment. It contains strategic objectives and actions on the 12 critical issues of concern to women.
Therefore, in anticipation of Beijing Plus 15, governments and NGOs around the world are engaged in preparatory activities to assess progress made at both national and regional levels to identify gaps and challenges requiring accelerated action in the years ahead. The 8th Africa regional conference for the review of Beijing Plus 15 will be held in Banjul, from the 16th to the 20th of November 2009. The platform will give special recognition to the efforts employed by respective governments and institutions to mainstream gender in policy formulation and implementation. This is a critical time for taking stock and determining the next steps to be taken towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment.
It is therefore pleasant to learn that efforts are on the way to boost this upcoming sinificant forum. As we brace up to host the event, we should also remember the giant steps taken by President Jammeh in ensuring that women in The Gambia take full control of the issues that affect their lives - from the homes to the farm lands, to the functioning of the state machinery. Modern equipment are made available to them in the rice fields to ease the intensity of labour; they have access to improved health service delivery thus reducing the infant mortality rate, and, at the core of decision making, ensure tangible representation of women.
It is obvious therefore, that President Jammeh is an icon in the emancipation and liberation of women from poverty and exploitation. However, despite the endless deprivation they are subjected to both at the family and societal levels, women, particularly Gambian women, have proven beyond all reasonable doubt that they are the vanguard of our development process. This fact simply explains why President Jammeh is sparing no effort in ensuring that our mothers and sisters harness and efficiently utilize their capacities and potentials to become self- reliant.
Since the presidentÂ's call for Gambians to take active part in spearheading our own development, the women have always been at the forefront. From the extraction of crude resources to the service industry, our women are toiling both day and night to ensure the development of their families. Their strong sense of devotion to the common interest, which is national development, is quite visible. Today, visit any part of this country and you will find women in agricultural production, in petty trading ventures, local manufacturing industries and even in capital intensive investments. All of these gear towards ensuring the realization of the aspirations of the president in transforming this country into a Silicon Valley.
We hope that our women will continue to recognize that they have a president who is standing by them at all times and anywhere. Imagine, a president who gives women free maternal health care delivery, free education for girls as well as initiate a series of development projects that go a long way to better the lives of women. Each time he speaks, he reiterates his commitment to supporting women.
This is what our sister African nations should emulate. The degree of a country's development can be gauged by the participation of its women in the development process. Our president will always be a pillar for you. We hope our brothers and sisters across the continent will gain the necessary awareness and come on board; so that collectively, the house that we build can become a home.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Daily Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
