Sahel Films Academy Multi-Media Campaign on Voter and Civic Education, had on Saturday, 23 October 2021 renewed calls for the media to help in ensuring the full participation of marginalized groups in politics, particularly in the upcoming December 4th Presidential election in the Gambia.
The Films Academy further held that the ‘elements of voter apathy’ should be a theme of the past, and marginalized groups shouldn’t left behind in the exercise of political rights, including to vote and be voted for, in elections.
In her welcoming remarks at the one-day media training seminar held at the organization’s Conference Hall along Independence Drive in Banjul, the Project Coordinator Ms. Oumie Batchilly, said Sahel Films and Academy (SFA) is a Civil Society Organization (CSO) established in 2018 in the Gambia. She explained that they are advocating for the rights and advancement of marginalized groups; using the media (film, photography, music and writing) for campaigns, information dissemination and public sensitization; and empowering Gambians to develop skills in media advocacy and presentations.
Batchilly informed her audience that they (SFA) are accredited by NAQAA [National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority] to both train and conduct assessment in filming and photography. She noted the objective of the training seminar was to increase the number of registered voters; increase voter turnout as well as promote peaceful elections in the Gambia.
Project Coordinator Batchilly delved into the important role media play in promoting civic issues, and to help ensuring the media produces quality articles and investigative reports around elections, affecting marginalized groups.
She also dilated on the legal frameworks on participation of marginalized groups: Public access to information on inclusion of marginalized groups; and how traditionally marginalized groups are being represented in the electoral process. She guided the participants through review of Legal Frameworks Surrounding Inclusive Participation of Marginalized Groups (such as Women/Youth/PWDs) within Political Parties.
The Sahel Films Academy senior official used the opportunity to challenge journalists to come up with investigative stories on the challenges marginalized groups face with political representation; find out whether their rights are being catered for before, during and after the elections, especially when voting; and how women are represented in political parties. She reassured journalists that SFA would pay for good detailed database articles on rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Ms. Batchilly, therefore, urged journalists to carry out investigative journalism by interviewing political parties and learning about the gaps in their organizations and how it could be improved upon. She also expressed the need for journalists to create well-researched and high-quality content and articles on the issues learnt during the training.
According to her, the legal frameworks, with references to women’s empowerment and gender equality have been made, but there are no concrete structures in place to promote women’s political participation.
“Only one political party stands out as its constitution makes provision for the selection of candidates and for the equal participation of women in the affairs of the party,” she said, adding there are “no provisions in the 1997 Constitution and Elections Act [of] 1996 for women, youth and PWDs”.
The Project Coordinator’s presentation also touched on Gender and Women Empowerment Policy 2010-2020, and the Women’s Act 2020, among other things.
Freelance journalist and General Manager of M.S.N Trading Enterprises, Mr. Madi S. Njie, made a presentation on the study by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Participation in political and public life by persons with disabilities (A/HRC/19/36) which had been prepared by Inclusion Europe, an organization of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Europe.
Njie told the participants that the United Nations is a group of countries that work to make the world a better place, adding almost all the countries in the world are part of the United Nations. He indicated that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is part of the United Nations.
While noting the OHCHR deals with rights at the United Nations, Njie added it wants all people to enjoy all their rights, making references to political rights which guarantees all people who have the nationality of a country. He maintained that citizens have the right to have a say in how their country is run; “this means they have political rights”.
Meanwhile, the participants have welcomed the training and expressed the need for strategies to sustain the advocacy and awareness raising in the print, electronic and online media, and at all levels of society.
Issues surrounding voter apathy and the participation of youth, women, PWDs in politics were discussed during the highly participatory training.
