Community leaders and gender equality campaigners launch forum for ethnic minority women in politics

DOZENS of gender equality activists gathered in central London last night for the launch of the Forum for African Afro-Caribbean and Asian Women in Politics (Fawp) aimed at encouraging ethnic minority fames to get engaged in the political process.

Held at the Holliday Inn on Regents Street, the event was attended by numerous women's rights activists and equality campaigners. Among the guests was the shadow international development secretary  and member of parliament for Edmonton Kate Osamor, the mayor of Enfield Councillor Christine Hamilton and the former MP for the constituency Andrew Love.

During a roundtable discussion about the matters, speakers spoke about how young women from ethnic minority backgrounds need to believe that they can overcome many of the odds placed in their ways. Other speakers on the night included women's rights activists Pauline Long, Justina Mutale, Jenny Okafor and founder Kate Anolue.

Mr Love said: "I would first of all encourage everyone not to ever give up on their dreams as things that do not happen today eventually come to pass. I first soot for parliament in 1992 and thought I would win but did not but five years later in 1997, I won as Tony Blair emerged victorious and became prime minister."

Ms Osamor added: "Everything around us is political and we need to get involved in the process to make a difference. It is not just about being a woman and coming from an ethnic minority background but about having policies that will engage young women and make them want to get involved in politics."

Ms Anolue pointed out that it is pertinent that women become involved politically as if they do not, they will not be able to influence decisions that affect them. She used the example of maternity leave to illustrate how women need to be seated around the decision table as only they will be able to tell what kind of time span is suitable for them to return to work.

Other dignitaries who attended the event included the chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) Dr Boma Douglas and how two vice chairman Ronke Udofia and Malcolm Benson, as well as the chairman of the Nigerian Direct Diaspora Investment summit Chief Bimbo Afolayan. Participants all agreed that there was a need to mentor young black women and empower them to believe that they were not inferior to anyone.