Gambia Press Union (GPU) President Isatou Keita urged stakeholders to transform rhetoric into concrete reforms to boost women’s political participation, as a national conference kicked off under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Power: Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Representation in The Gambia.”
Speaking at the opening of the two-day event at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, Keita described the gathering as occurring at a “critical moment” in The Gambia’s democratic journey. With the 2026–2027 electoral cycle approaching, she highlighted persistent gaps between constitutional equality commitments and the reality of women’s limited roles in decision-making.
“Women’s participation in politics is not a symbolic exercise. It is a democratic necessity,” Keita emphasized, pointing to structural, cultural, and economic barriers that keep women underrepresented in elected offices, party leadership, and senior public positions. Despite women comprising over 51% of the population and around 57-58% of registered voters, only about 8.6% of seats in the National Assembly are held by women (5 out of 58 members).
Keita stressed the media’s pivotal role in shaping perceptions of women leaders. “Through the stories it tells and the narratives it reinforces or challenges, the media influences how women leaders are perceived,” she said, calling for coverage that moves beyond stereotypes to focus on policy positions and accountability.
The GPU president demanded deliberate actions from political parties, state institutions, and electoral bodies, including internal reforms, equitable access to campaign resources, and enforcement of gender equality policies. She warned that efforts must yield “measurable actions” ahead of upcoming elections to strengthen democracy and reflect Gambian society’s aspirations.
The conference, organized by International IDEA in partnership with the European Union, brings together the Gambia Government (via the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare), the CSO-Gender Platform, the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, the Gambia Press Union, and the Inter-Party Committee.
Keita extended gratitude to International IDEA and the EU, committing the GPU to ethical reporting and sustained engagement on gender and governance issues.
