Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-01 11:24:18
Between reflections and sharing of opinions, the symposium “Democratic Consolidation: Women’s Agency, Voices and Perspectives,” organized by Gender Links, set the tone for the debate on the role of women in key political positions, as the legislative elections approach.
As the general elections draw near, the issue of female representation on the candidate list for Parliament, at the head of ministries, in the political space… is once again at the center of discussions. The electoral campaign is fast approaching. And there is little time left for the voices advocating for more women in the political arena to be heard and understood. The non-governmental organization Gender Links has also been campaigning for the past three weeks. “Plis ki enn kota,” Gender Links’s slogan is supported by a petition to encourage parties vying for votes to field more women. The questions surrounding Mauritian women’s access to a political sphere that is predominantly male-dominated were addressed at the symposium “Democratic Consolidation: Women’s Agency, Voices, and Perspectives” organized by Gender Links in Port Louis yesterday.
“An embarrassing situation”
Inserted into the organization’s campaign, this symposium was an opportunity for speakers, all public figures and references in their respective fields, to put the recurring issue of gender parity and quotas into perspective in the current context. Everyone, including the audience composed of women and men from civil society, wants to see the numbers regarding representation in the legislature rise. The Republic has only 14 female parliamentarians compared to 55 men. 5 female ministers compared to 25 men. “An embarrassing situation” vis-a-vis countries on the African continent, exclaimed former minister Sheila Bapoo from the audience. Embarrassing indeed, but for whom, since proactive political actions to change the situation are not forthcoming!
Anushka Virahsawmy, director of Gender Links Mauritius, explained at the symposium preamble: “In 2024, several aspects of female representation in politics may still shock and require reflection and action to promote greater gender equality in this field. Women are often underrepresented in political leadership positions such as presidencies, prime ministers, and key ministers. This reflects persistent imbalances in women’s access to the highest political spheres of power. Women in politics often face gender-based political violence, such as harassment, threats, and sexist attacks. This can deter women from fully engaging. Political structures and practices often lack institutional support to promote women’s equal participation. Concrete policies and measures are needed to ensure an inclusive and equitable political environment, including the Pa zis enn Kota campaign.”
The journey towards political parity, which began after Independence, is extremely slow. The key that will open the door to women’s leadership remains in the hands of political decision-makers. Rama Sithanen, former Minister of Economy, during his presentation, suggested that the Best Loser system should prioritize female candidates while maintaining the parameters that define the concept, including the ethnic criterion.
Satyajit Boolell: “Politics is a closed, fossilized circle…”
This is a temporary solution aimed at ensuring better female representation in Parliament, he said. And what about amending the Constitution to facilitate women’s integration into leadership positions in politics? The process is lengthy, reminded former Director of Public Prosecutions, Satyajit Boolell, while regretting that “beyond the issue of gender, we are deeply obsessed with the dichotomy of ethnicity in politics. The more we evolve, the worse it gets.” He emphasized that politics in Mauritius “is a closed, fossilized circle, in a society still deeply patriarchal” that poses obstacles to opportunities. Lovania Pertab, president of Transparency Mauritius, mentioned another barrier that makes it difficult for women to enter politics: financing. She notes, among other things, that women do not have the same networks and financial facilities as men for membership. However, she points out that without the corruption and dirty money infiltrating the political arena, it would be possible for women to finance their political participation, and things could be different for them.
Everywhere, but invisible!
Toxic campaigns, inappropriate language… How can one engage in politics in an unhealthy environment? This is a question that Sheila Bunwaree, an academic and politician, says she faces when she meets women who have political potential but do not want to enter the arena to avoid being humiliated by insults. In contrast, she continues, this issue is not a major problem for men. Joanne Ranoojee, co-founder of La Politique Expliquée Aux Jeunes, called for an introduction to politics from secondary school. It is wrong to say that young people, including women, are not interested in politics. “But they do not see themselves in current policies. They do not feel represented. They perceive politics differently,” she says.
The Gender Links symposium raised reflection on the concept of female solidarity in politics. Not always present, according to some participants. The idea that better representation of women in the National Assembly would improve the condition of women is also uncertain. “We are everywhere but we are invisible. Women must train themselves to be visible. If we fail to be visible, it will mean that we cannot fight and advocate for parity and position ourselves,” observed Lovania Pertab in this regard.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
