GAMCOTRAP inaugurates new headquarters

GAMCOTRAP Exe. Dir. Dr. Touray

The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) inaugurated its new Administrative Building at Knifing Estate on April 1, 2011.

GAMCOTRAP Executive Director Dr. Isatou Touray said the day is a very important because women’s concerns and efforts have always been addressed with patriarchal structures and institutions which have their own organizational culture and strategic management.

She said the new building will be used for conducting trainings, research, consultancy, awareness creation and consciousness raising in order to help them develop their capacity and say “no to violence and abuse”.  

She stressed that the building demonstrates that women can make a difference as managers with commitment, dedication, trust and teamwork. She said women constitute 50 percent of the population; they have competences skills and knowledge to give, to share and to demonstrate within the broader development framework.

She said at GAMCOTRAP, they empower women to speak for themselves, because the issues they address affect them emotionally and physically, affecting their bodily integrity which is a very intimate and private aspect of sexuality.

“Therefore our work in communities is to support women to discover themselves and take leadership,” she said. “We also contribute to national development by supporting the policy commitment made by our government to promote and protect women and children’s rights in The Gambia.”

According to her, GAMCOTRAP’s approach to women’s empowerment is embedded in feminist principles, working with men “who care” as partners in development. “Our activities are also informed by gender analytical tools to inform policies that will be gender responsive and sensitive,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in The Gambia (TANGO) Mr. Yankuba Dibba said his organization as head of all NGOs in The Gambia is very proud of the hard work GAMCOTRAP is doing in empowering women.

He said the building shows that all NGOs are visible, and GANCOTRAP has taken a big step in sustaining the TANGO.

For her part, the President of Inter Africa Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Mrs. Mariama Lamizana Traoret called the initiative “a great achievement” to GAMCOPTRAP.

She said Headquarter will serve as a center for human rights.

GAMCOTRAP Programme Manager Amie Bojang Sissoho gave the vote of thanks. Source - The Voice