Gambian women have demanded more seats in the National Assembly as they campaigned to end low representation of women in politics.

A pro-women advocacy group, Gender Platform, wants at least 16 seats for women in the National Assembly which will see two seats allocated for women in each of the seven administrative regions of the country. The additional two seats are for people with disabilities. 

The activists also want lawmakers to speed up reading of the proposed women representation bill and give it approval before the upcoming National Assembly and local government elections in April 2022.

Tabu Njie-Sarr, president of gender platform, expressed optimism about the bill saying lawmakers have shown much interest after her team’s engagement with them.

“One thing I can say as at now is that this bill is for the women of this country and it will come to rectify the low representation of women especially in the National Assembly and in the political parties since independence,” Ms Njie-Sarr said.

“We are hopeful that it will be passed and it’s going to be celebrated of course, because it’s going to be historic that such an affirmative action has been passed in our legislation. 

“And as I always say gender equality is a win-win for everybody, not only for women but for men, boys and girls,” she added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba