Kadiata Malick Diallo is vice-president of the Union of Forces for Progress (UFP) and a deputy in Mauritania’s National Assembly. She spoke to IRIN about her journey into politics and the role of women in the emerging Mauritanian democracy.

“When I was in secondary school, there was no democracy in Mauritania and we had one-party rule. I followed the progress of a few of my cousins who were politically active and calling for change, like many of the youths during that time, but all in all, my family was fairly non-political.

“I first got involved in politics in my senior year at secondary school when I joined the Association for the Revival of the Pular Language, the language of my people, the Peules. It eventually split off into different factions and I joined one of them, the National Democratic Movement [MND], which promoted the integration of ethnic communities across Mauritania.

“The MND was illegal, as were many political organisations at that time, and my family was very hesitant about me getting involved - they didn’t want the exposure. In those days many political activists were arrested and some were even tortured. I was lucky and nothing happened to me, but my husband who was a trade unionist was arrested many times.

“Political life in Mauritania has changed a lot since the 1980s. Political parties are legal now, and there’s no need for underground movements. The MND was disbanded in 1998.

“It is now accepted that women should participate in political life here. The country has taken a major step forward with the quota of 20 percent of women being elected into political office, but I think we should go still further. Our ultimate goal is equality.

“We are also calling for quotas to be extended to women trying to access non-elective office - the judiciary, high-level civil service posts, and so on. There are still only three women ministers in government today. A few women have been appointed as secretary-generals, prefects or ambassadors, but the numbers are still too low.

“Some members of parliament remain opposed to the quota - they think it is anti-democratic and promotes mediocrity. But mediocrity is not the exclusive preserve of women.

“Even here in the National Assembly, people often overlook women when they choose members to form permanent standing committees [to discuss a specific issue or bill]. Attitudes must change and we must fight for this but I still do not see men doing that yet.