As the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) concluded its latest sitting in Arusha, Tanzania last week, members unanimously voted to recognise the House’s Women Caucus as a forum for women members of the Assembly to promote the full participation of women in programmes and activities of the Community.

This followed a motion, moved by MP Fatuma Ibrahim Ali (Kenya), for a resolution of the regional Parliament recognising the Women’s Caucus of the Assembly. 

Reading the motion on behalf of her Kenyan colleague, MP Pamela Simon Maasay (Tanzania) noted that, among others, chapter 21 of the EAC Treaty recognises the contribution of women in socio-economic transformation and enshrines the acknowledgment of the Community that it is impossible to implement effective programmes for the economic and social development of the Community without the full participation of women.

"Women members of this Assembly are a minority in comparison to their male counterparts and it is necessary for the women members of the Assembly to come together and create avenues enabling them to make their voices heard, to forge ties of mutual solidarity and effectively contribute to the work of the Assembly and the programmes and activities of the Community,” Maasay stated.

"Caucuses have been formed and used in the national Assemblies of the partner states and are recognised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as mechanisms within the parliaments of many countries established to strengthen cooperation among women engaged in political life and enhance effective alliances around a common goal.”

"I am so happy that as we deliberate this motion, the world is about to celebrate International Women’s Day,” said MP Amb Fatuma Ndangiza (Rwanda).

International Women's Day will be observed on March 8 under the theme "Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.”

UN Women, in a statement, said that the year 2022 is "pivotal for achieving gender equality."

Ndangiza noted that, "in effect, passing the motion will be part of our celebration and also supporting this global cause, regional cause and national cause” because there is no doubt today about the importance of the role of women in development or in regional integration. 

Partner States committed in Article 121 of the Treaty to promote the empowerment and effective integration and participation of women at all levels of the socio-economic development, especially in decision-making, she noted.

The membership of the Assembly, provided for in Article 48 of the EAC Treaty, includes 22 women and two ex-officio female members of the Council of Ministers. 

Currently, EALA has 22 women out of the 54 lawmakers that make up the house, with each of the six partner states providing nine legislators. Tanzania has the biggest number of women (five), followed by Rwanda and Burundi, each with four. South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya have three female lawmakers each.

Muhia Wanjiku (Kenya) notes that she was surprised to find that EALA did not have one yet Women’s Caucuses are a common thing in parliaments.

Maasay and her colleagues are convinced that it is necessary for the Assembly to recognise the Women’s Caucus as a forum and platform for women members of EALA to promote the full participation of women in programmes and activities of the six-member bloc.

The for the resolution that established EALA’s Women’s Caucus recognised that women caucuses contribute towards advocating for and promoting women’s legislative and policy priorities, building capacities of women legislators and promoting gender mainstreaming in the work and functioning of Assemblies.

The men in the House also showed robust support.

MP Ngwaru Maghembe (Tanzania) noted that today, gender bias continues to put huge barriers for women a d ongoing struggles include women trying to get equal economic opportunities, education equality, and an end to gender-based violence.

He said: "When you look at statistics for homeless women you find that every one in four homeless women is because of gender-based violence.”

Maghembe said the Women’s Caucus will be an extremely important forum "which will help women in our Community, who are more than 80 million.”

"It will fast-track their development,” he said.