Speech Delivered by The Vice President, Dr Isatou Njie Saidy at the Launching of The National Women's Council & Bureau Silver Jubilee and 2006 International Women's Day Celebrations, Sensitisation and Call for Partnership Programme

Madam Chairperson
Honourable Secretaries Of State
Speaker of the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker O the National Assembly Members
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
Permanent Secretaries
Commissioners
Mayors and Chairpersons
National Women Councillors, Bureau Staff
Distinguished Guests
Ladies And Gentlemen
All Other Protocol Respectively Observed

Annually, March 8th, The Gambia joins the rest of the World to commemorate International Women’s day, as one of the declarations of the United Nations. This celebration recognizes women’s participation and challenges they face in all areas of development. International Women’s Day therefore is a time to reflect on the achievements, challenges and the way forward for women and though women, for the rest of society.

This year, in The Gambia, the International Women’s Day Celebrations have double significance, as it not only marks the recognition of women’s important role in society and development, but also the 25 years of existence of the National Women’s Council and Bureau and the July 2006 AU summit.

Since established by an Act of Parliament in 1980, the National women’s Council and Bureau are the key leaders of the nation’s women machinery. The council is compose of 50 members, 45 women councillors selected throughout the country., and five nominated members who contribute their professional advice and experiences. The Council is the National cabinet and or Assembly of women, whereas the Bureau serves as the administrative arm of the council. The task of the Bureau includes, mainstreaming gender issues and concerns in all development initiatives as well as, empowering women, female youth and girl children.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, LADIES AND GENTLE MEN

As we celebrate the Council’s and Bureau’s Silver Jubilee, along with this year’s International Women’s Day Celebrations, theme: Women in leadership and decision making positions, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the tremendous progress women have made in all areas of development in The Gambia. Women’s participation in decision-making positions, politics, the judiciary, business and the private sector, have been tremendously supported by the APRC government.

In addition to a female Vice President and three female Secretaries of State, a deputy speaker, national assembly members, there are top women in the judiciary and as key public administrators, in both the public and private sectors.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

As I said earlier on, This year marks two important accasions in The Gambia, not only is it the Silver Jubilee of Council and Bureau, but Gambia is also hosting the African Union Heads of State Summit in July 2006.

His Excellency the President is the Chief supporter of the Gambian women and African Women and Her Excellency the first Lady will be invited as the Patroness of this silver Jubilee and International Women’s day celebrations as we do annually and the PROPOSED PROGRAMMES INCLUDE:

1. Launching of the sensitization programme and A NERICA rice epileptic test being conducted by invitees to this programme.

2. A women of excellence award ceremony on March 11th which recognizes the outstanding achievements for Gambian women, and a concert by Gambian artists and Fatou Gewel from the Republic of Senegal will take place on the same day with the aim of raising funds for rehabilitating the RVTH maternity ward in support of Her Excellency The First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh all taking place on the 11th of March 2006 at Kairaba Beach Hotel. All men women and partners are invited to support these events.

3. Women’s affairs and the UN Secretary General’s Representative and UN Systems Coordinator Ms. Fadzai Gwaradzimba, on the 7th of March on GRTS radio and TV. The speeches will also be published by the print media and in the Gambiawomen Website; www.gambiawomen.gm

4. Launching of the NAS Global Fund Project on Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS Campaign March 8th at Faji kunda KMC, to be followed by Divisional Launchings during the same month of March, 2006

5.It is also planned that divisional workshops/meetings culminating in a national conference inviting Gambian women and women living in the Gambia from the Region, will be held to validate the draft 5 years project proposal on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, developed by the Women’s Bureau in collaboration with SSPACO, with the sole objective of effectively implementing the National Policy on the Advancement of Women and girls and SPA III/PRASP. The development of this project is also in response to implementing the recommendations of the Beijing plus 10 review meeting, held in New York in March 2005, and the recommendation to government, by the CEDAW committee last year, after considering the Gambia’s initial, second and third reports on the status of the Implementation of UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women(CEDAW) and the AU protocol on women. The drafting of the project document was highly consultative including all Government sectors, the private sector, development partners, NGOs, and CBOs. The drafted document was also shared with many SOS and national assembly members during the President’s Women empowerment taskforce meeting in my office. However developing a project document is not the answer, fully funding and implementing the project is what is ideal, and to achieve this objective two main elements are required, ensuring that the project objectives meets the needs of the target groups and that ownership by all stakeholders is achieved. Thus the reason for the validation of this project. Already the draft project has informed the UNDAF 2007-2011 and the Medium Term Plan (MTP) cum PRSP which is under finalisation. This project will form the basis for H.E. the president’s women empowerment Initiative. May I seize this opportunity to briefly mention the two main strategies of this project. These are effective gender mainstreaming to fully integrate the different needs and concerns of women and men and men and women related organisations and bodies, considering their different backgrounds in all development processes and practices, in the coming five years, and for meaningful women’s empowerment in order to further close the gender gap between men and women and boys and girls, by protecting the rights and employable and marketable entrepreneurial skills, as well as ensure that women have access to markets, credit, control and own productive resources, particularly assets such as land and housing. All with the aim of attaining gender equality and empowerment of women.

6. The Mid-term Review of the National Women’s Policy, development of an effective Monitoring and evaluation framework for the implementation of the Women’s Policy is planned for April-June 2006.

7.Amendment for the National women’s Council and Bureau Act of 1980 to ensure that it is in line with latest conventions acceded to, and developments as articulated in the National Policy on the advancement of Women and girls 1999-2009, scheduled for April 2006 onwards.

8.Launching of the National Study on Gender and Women’s Empowerment funded by UNFPA, planned for May 2006.

9. Request for a proposed meeting between His Excellency the President and 1,000 women followed by an official ceremony as part of the Silver Jubilee, and the 2006 International Women’s Day, to be graced by H.E. The President Dr. Yahya Jammeh or the First Lady, scheduled for May 2006.

10. Finally, a regional conference on the way-forward for African Women – focusing on quality education and training of girls, boys, women and youths and followed by an exhibition of women’s products, will be held as a prelude of the African Union Summit June – July 2006.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, LADIES AND GENTLE MEN

The celebration therefore seeks to further empower women, men, boys and girls in partnership. Several other concerts will be held in May and June to raise funds to support the silver jubilee and women’s day projects to be pledged for and provided to women: 25 milling machines, 25 houses drawn ambulances, 25 village community tele-centers, 25 houses/plots (to be facilitated by SSHFC and other Estate Agents for purchase by women), rehabilitation of 25 vegetable gardens, establishment of 25 NERICA rice seed multiplication sites, more credit/grants and market opportunities for women and their products and services are all in the pipeline/ planned for.

Also a massive sensitization campaign on gender and women’s participation in decision making, politics, economics an the impact of socio-cultural barriers will be conducted. Dialogue among women, men, policy makers, CBOs, development partners and the Private sector in general is starting from 28th February until June 2006. During this sensitisation period a documentary will be shown on the National women’s council and the Bureau, its achievements including women in key positions, as well as those operating businesses in the Private Sector. Also to be shown are key projects supported by partners and challenges and future plans. The awareness campaign will also include the publication of a special Awa magazine and audio visual materials. The Gambian Artists are also planning to produce an album and a drama for the celebrations, further creating awareness.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, LADIES AND GENTLE MEN

Each of the events will focus on the following objectives: improving the health referral system, with a particular focus on improving maternal and child health, and reducing maternal and infant mortality; improving access to quality education and training for girls and women; as well as, improving and increasing production, productivity and marketing of women’s activities, goods and services. The Women’s Bureau’s national office and divisional offices will be refurbished thus enhancing the work of the women’s Bureau staff by creating an enabling work environment.

I am pleased to officially inform you of these four and a half (41/2) months series of planned activities starting from today as part of this important landmark celebrations, the objective for this launching and sensitization, is to accord you the opportunity, to be well sensitized and informed of the planned activities of the women’s Council and Bureau and its partners in development. I therefore invite you to co-organize, and or initiate where possible more activities, with the ultimate objective of empowering women, in order to reduce gender inequalities and promote women’s effective participation in decision making, and encourage eligible and deserving women’s appointment in leadership positions. All women’s organizations, development partners and related institutions and individuals, are hereby challenged, to come-up with innovative ideas, activities and programmes, on the way forward for Gambian women, and through the development of women, the rest of society follows suit.

As the Secretary of State responsible for Women’s Affairs, this women’s week programme, under the patronage of H.E. the First Lady, and on behalf of the Government, under the general guidance, directives and leadership of H.E the President. I would also welcome any pledges in support of the projects mentioned earlier. No amount is small either in cash, kind or in the form of ideas, or services to be pledged.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLE MEN

In connection with my appeal for cooperation, collaboration and genuine partnership I am pleased to commend NARI for its immediate response by initiating the NERICA Rice epileptic test, which is one of Government’s projects towards empowering women in The Gambia. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the women farmers who are participating in the NERICA Rice Project. This new variety of rice for Africa commonly, referred to as NERICA will indeed help us increase access and large scale production of rice, which is critical women’s crop in The Gambia. The NERICA project will also equip resource poor farmers, with relevant skills and information needed for the multiplication and diffusion of NERICA Rice. Currently, the NERICA Rice Project has been established in three main centres and several other sub-centres throughout the country. I also wish to commend the NERICA Coordinating Office and the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) for the good work they are doing in this area. In the same vein I thank the horticulture, livestock and extension units for the department of State for Agriculture for the assistance given to women farmers. All other Government sector, NGOs, the Private Sector, CBOs, the private sector, the UN family and other development partners, are especially thanked for their assistance and contributions over the last twenty-five years to women.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLE MEN

On a final note, as we joyously celebrate the double significance of 2006, I once again call on all women, men and youth both, in the public and private sector, and all development partners, to fully participate in these critical events. While wishing all women and men, boys and girls and young and old, a happy 25 years Anniversary, I look forward to these great events and celebrations, as a prelude, to the Banjul African Union Summit for July, 2006.

On this note I officially declare the Gambia women’s machinery, council and Bureau’s Silver Jubilee, and the 2006 International Women’s Day Celebrations sensitization and call for partnership program, officially open.

May Allah the almighty bless all Gambian Women, and women of all other nationalities, sectors and levels children and men too, and wish all of us successful celebrations and Allah ‘s guidance and protection, at all times, and in all our endeavors.

Thank you.