By: Bakary Touray Jr
The Network against Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) is embarking on a 16-day activism campaign against gender-based Violence.
The campaign, which kicks off on 25th November, is expected to end on 10th December, 2019.
The campaign is part of this year’s commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of violence against Women.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “End Gender Based Violence on the World of Work”. This development was made known to the media during a press conference organised by senior officials of NGBV, held at the Action-aid International’s head office in the country.
Halimatou J Jesuorobo, the Project Manager NGBV, said the press conference was to brief the media on the forthcoming two weeks activism campaign.
She informed that the theme for this year’s Anniversary is ‘No to Sexual Violence in Work Places’.
Mr. Fallu Sowe, National Coordinator NGBV indicated that the day is aimed to raise concerns relating to violence which normally affects women and girls. He believed this would ensure that actions are taken to address the issue of sexual and gender based violence against women and girls.
“The campaign aims to harmonize our efforts to end all forms of sexual and gender based violence in the Gambia. The theme also reflects the core principle of the transformative 2030 Agenda”, said National Coordinator Sowe.
He frowned at gender based violence as “a grave human rights violation”, explaining that it comes in the form of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence, all of which, have serious consequences, ranging from immediate to long-term effects.
Sowe observed that The Gambia is a signatory to international and regional treaties, which include convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, but they are not being enforced.
The NGBV official charged that these, among other treaties, should be enforced to ensure that they serve the purpose for which they were enacted. He decried that despite these legislations, violence against women and children is still high.
He cited the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 2018, indicating that out of a total of 2,030 sexual violence cases reported from 2014 to 2018, “941 are sexual violence cases”.
The National Coordinator disclosed that during their campaign, the Network would, inter alia, remind duty-bearers of their duty to protect women and girls, create awareness on legal instruments that protect the rights of women and girls, amplify voices of sexual violence survivors, break silence and encourage open and honest discussions on sexual and gender based violence.
