GAMCOTRAP – the women’s right group -- was able to reach about three hundred youths in a three-day sensitisation campaign that started on last Friday. The programme was centred in three areas in the Greater Banjul Area: its head office at Kanifing, Wellingara Cinema hall, and the Sukuta hospital.
Speaking at the event, Dr Isatou Touray said, “GAMCOTRAP is committed to the promotion and protection of women and girl children’s political, social, educational and sexual reproduction and health rights.”
According to her, why her institution targets the youth cohort, is because they are the custodians of the future. “Youth are very important in development, because they are the future leaders of every country,” she said, adding that her NGO is committed to creating and raising the awareness of girl children and women about traditional issues that affect their wellbeing.
The scheme, in which GAMCOTRAP engaged this youth, is sponsored by the UN Trust fund for women and Save the Children Sweden. The only multilateral grant-making mechanism exclusively devoted to supporting local and national efforts to end violence against women and girls, the UN Trust Fund works with partners across the world to secure much-needed services for women and girls affected by violence. Through its partners, the Fund also invests in long-term solutions for a world free of violence.
Dr Touray urged that in order to free Gambia off the scourge of traditional practices, the right information must be provided to the youth who constitute about 60% of our population. She said women in our geographical context have languished many years in abject poverty and practicing harmful traditional practices, because of ignorance and misinformation of the text of the holy books by so-called scholars – who claimed FGM, is obligatory in Islam.
She informed reporters that the work of GAMCOTRAP is having impacts in the country, as people’s attitude towards the practice is also changing. “Somebody called me this morning and informed me of a scenario, where someone leaves Senegal and comes to Basse to get his child circumcise.
As soon as the women we engaged over the past years heard about this news, they stood firm that the woman will not perform this act in their village. Therefore, you can see how people’s mindsets are changing. They [the youth] need to be informed of the effects attached to the practice, so that they can use their conscience and act wisely,” Dr Isatou said.
She pointed that by few years ahead; there is a possibility that the Gambia will be declared an FGM free state, citing the availability of the possible wherewithal to boost the campaign. “We are confident that by 2020 Gambia will be free from female genital mutilation, if the possible resources are available in our disposal,” she added.
LINKING FGM TO DEVELOPMENT
The development of a nation cannot be sustainable if the health situation of the women folk remain a risk. The unaccounted deaths as a result of FGM is a cause for alarm, as research papers have indicated that Gambia is among the countries that are rated high in maternal mortality.
For Dr Touray, some of these deaths could have been avoided, if only the right information and knowledge have been marshalled.
In this context, development could not be possible without creating a possible socio-environment for women, she noted. She challenged that it is high time those in the echelon of power pay heed to the women’s bill, which is still hanging in the balance.
She underscored GAMCOTRAP’s commitment to sensitise and lobby decision and policymakers about socio-cultural practices that are harmful to the health of girl-children and women.
No comments:
Post a Comment