Fast-track passage of Affirmative Action Bill - Parliament urged
Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called on Parliament to fast-track the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) into Law, as a positive step to enhance the active participation of women in decision-making.
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At a media interaction programme in Accra, the organisations, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) and Womankind Worldwide, observed that the passage of the AAB was expected to increase the number of women in politics by 40 per cent, as well as ensure an equitable system of representation in governance, in accordance with the laws of the country.
That is expected to give women a good platform to discuss issues relating to conflict and violence against women.
The law is also aimed at improving the welfare of persons with disability and empower both the girl and boy child through planned and coordinated skills development and training programmes.
Gender equality
Speaking at the programme, the Programmes Manager in charge of Governance at WiLDAF, Mr Frank Bodza, said women needed to be more involved in peacekeeping, governance and other levels of decision-making, adding that the empowerment of women was key for national development.
According to him, the processes for the passage of the AAB into law started about 22 years ago, stressing the need for Parliament to consider the bill, when it is presented to the House, by next month.
Mr Bodza said the purpose of promoting gender equality was not for women to compete with men, but to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women.
He said the AAB had been designed in line with the United Nations Security Council’s first resolution on women, peace and security, the national constitution and other international and regional instruments.
He urged the media to contribute to the process of facilitating the passage of the bill into law “to enable us to develop a comprehensive law which will make women and those who are under-represented, take part in our national development process. This is because an equal representation of women and men in decision-making reflects a more accurate composition of the society.”