By: Modou Touray
Mrs Jainaba Fye, The International IDEA Head of Gambia Office stated that the Draft Amendment Bill 2026 which proposes the creation of 14
dedicated seats for women and 2 for persons with disabilities, stands as a pivotal step toward a more inclusive and representative democracy, one that truly reflects the diversity and aspirations of all Gambians.
The review held from the 21st to 23rd January provides Honorable Members of the Gender Committee the opportunity to examine the proposed bill ahead of its presentation to the Assembly for debate and passage.
“Just one month ago, in December 2025, we convened the landmark
National Conference on Women’s Political Participation and
Representation in The Gambia. Under the theme “Breaking Barriers &
Building Power,” over 200 stakeholders came together to confront the
persistent reality of women’s voices being underrepresented in our
political institutions. The endorsement of a historic communiqué by 18
out of 22 political parties marked a significant step forward to a
collective commitment to gender-sensitive reforms, including quotas,
enhanced party leadership roles for women, and electoral changes to
accelerate equality.”
She pointed out that today’s forum seeks to build directly on that momentum nothing that the past two days,
the Gender Committee has undertaken thorough, evidence-based
deliberations, examining the bill’s provisions, refining its language, and
ensuring its alignment with our constitutional values, regional
commitments, and international standards on gender equality and
disability rights.
“Today, as we convene the full House, we have the
unique opportunity to harness the collective wisdom, experience, and
vision to advance this transformative legislation.
Hon. Speaker. Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, as you recall, a
benchmarking study visit to Kenya was organized by International IDEA
in 2024, under the EU CODE project. The Gender Committee and a
couple of allies travelled to Kenya to learn directly from their
experiences in implementing affirmative action measures. That
mission did not present Kenya as a perfect model, but as a learning
experience, one that showed that constitutional reforms require
political courage, sustained dialogue, and a willingness to adapt global
principles to national realities. Many of the reflections from that visit are clearly echoed in the draft bill today.”
Mrs Fye asserted that the proposed amendments are less about numbers and more about
justice, legitimacy, and effectiveness emphasizing that women, who form over half of
our population and the majority of registered voters, remain severely
underrepresented, holding far less than 10% of seats in this Assembly.
“By reserving 14 seats for women, we address this longstanding
exclusion and ensure that diverse perspectives shape laws that impact
every Gambian family and community. Likewise, dedicating 2 seats to
persons with disabilities honours our obligations under the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and recognizes
their right to full participation in public life. These measures
strengthen our democracy by making it more responsive, innovative,
and resilient.”
The International IDEA Head of Gambia Office added that today’s gathering marks not only the culmination of this intensive
consultation but also the final activity of the National Assembly under
the EU-funded CODE project that International IDEA has had the
honour to implement since 2023. CODE has supported this institution
through capacity building, strategic planning, adoption of a
groundbreaking Code of Conduct for Members, communication
enhancements, and targeted efforts to advance inclusion and
legislative reform. In a special gesture of partnership and recognition
of the Assembly’s commitment to transparency and public
engagement.
“International IDEA remains grateful for the trust placed in us
throughout the EU CODE Project. While this programme comes an
end, we hope that our partnership with this Assembly and our support
for inclusive democracy will continue.
I commend the Gender Committee for its leadership, the National
Assembly for its openness to dialogue, and the European Union for its
unwavering support. International IDEA remains your steadfast
partner, ready to provide continued technical support as this bill
moves forward and as we work together to consolidate The Gambia’s
democratic gains. I wish you fruitful deliberations and courageous
decision-making in the days ahead.
God bless The Gambia and long live our democracy”
Speaking at the opening the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, stated that for too long, The Gambia’s political system has been characterized by a stark imbalance in women’s representation. He emphasized that women make up more than half of the population and play a critical role in sustaining communities and the economy.
“This reality is not mirrored in the decision-making bodies of our National Assembly. The ongoing efforts by the Gender Committee to introduce a committee bill seeking to reserve seats for women is a bold and necessary step towards correcting this historical imbalance. Leadership and political decision-making are not the exclusive preserve of any gender,” he added.
The Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Hon. Fatoumatta Njai, expressed sincere gratitude to International IDEA and the European Union for their unwavering support and commitment to advancing inclusive governance and democratic reforms.
The European Union Deputy Head of Mission to The Gambia, Mr. Raphaël Brigandi described the draft constitutional amendment bill on gender quotas as a historic milestone in the country’s democratic journey.
“This Bill is more than a legal proposal; it’s a powerful democratic statement, one that signals a readiness to close the gap between ambition and action on women’s representation and to write a historic chapter in The Gambia’s democratic journey,” he said.
The reviewed draft Bill will now proceed through the next stages of the legislative process in the National Assembly.
