By Mariam Williams
The head of Civil Society Gender Platform on Transitional Justice, Mrs. HeforTabu Njie-Sarr, has enjoined the public to stop blaming victims of rape.
Njie made the call at a recent press conference on Sexual and Gender-based Violence as part of celebrations of the 16 Days Activism, held International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) office at Victim Center.
The gender activist posited that people should stop blaming victims of rape because “it {being raped} is never their fault”.
Giving background of their platform, Njie-Sarr explained that the group is a civil society advocacy group of women rights organisation and individuals that was established to provide high-level strategic support during the establishment of the transitional justice process in The Gambia, to advocate for gender justice. It recognizes that progressive national and international instruments could help in empowering, protecting, and promoting women’s rights, stated the head of Gender Platform.
She told the gathered members of the press that, the Platform highlighted the recommendations emanating from the Women and Youth Forum on the commemoration of 16 days campaign of activities on violence against women and girls.
Njie-Sarr echoed their call on government to put in place measures to regulate the issue of children selling in the streets, and to protect those under the age 18. She believed regulating that would help in protecting children against ill-vices that are meted to children such as being recruited in violence extremism, rape and kidnapping.
The Civil Society Gender Platform leader further called on the authorities to enhance full prosecution of cases on sexual and gender based violence, and institute child protection community structures to empower communities to deal with harmful traditional practices meted out to women and children.
Furthermore, she argued that government should utilize youth centers with more information and make it more youth friendly.
Njie-Sarr also called on the government to enhance security, especially in lonely areas, and enforce the Sexual Offenses Act, as she maintained that “rape is rape”.
Encourage HeforShe campaign, she added, as he recommended for sexual and gender-based violence to be included in the school curriculum.
She charged that parents must encourage dialogue with their children on sexual and gender based violence, among others.
Madam Yadicon Njie-Eribo, Women’s Affairs Unit Coordinator of the TRRC said, “Let us try not to victimize those who reported rape cases or any form of gender violence.” She highlighted the different forms of gender-based violence such as rape, child-marriage, FGM, inter alia.
Reminding that “Rape is very serious”, Njie-Eribo posited, “we should report rape perpetrators as well as report cases to the police in order to mitigate sexual violence in the Gambia”.
She exhorted parents to make their children as “friends”…for the betterment of their lives.
Head of Programs at ICTJ, Didier Gbery, also spoke on gender-based violence and their mitigations.
