The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray
informed participants that GAMCOTRAP promotes the rights of women and children
and engage in social mobilization to dispel the misconceptions associated to
FGM and religion as well as promote the dignity of women. The training workshops also gave participants
the opportunity to engage on issues of female sexuality and of gender based
violence. They were enlightened on the
efforts the Gambia has made
to promote the rights of women and children by ratifying the United National
Conventions and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People rights
on the Rights of Women in Africa as well as
the national laws on women and children.
It was however made clear that there is no specific law to protect girls from FGM at the moment but the Gambia
has committed itself under Article 5 of the Women’s Protocol to enact a
specific law to protect girls and women from FGM.
At Janjanbureh, the Head Chief of CRR North, Malick Mbye said
the recommendations from the Local Government Authorities including Chiefs,
Imams, Ward Councillors, Women leaders and Circumcisers calling for a law
against Female Genital Mutilation is
supported because there is awareness in the region that the
practice affects women’s reproductive
health.
“We the chiefs would not have participated in these
activities if they are not in the interest of our people”, he emphasized.
Speaking on behalf of the Circumcisers, Haja Tandi Yaffa
noted that even though FGM is deep-rooted, it is through the series of trainings
that they became conscious of the effects it has on women and
girl-children. Like most of her
colleagues, they were made to belief that it was a religious injunction. Imam, Cherno Muhamadou Dem of Janjanbureh
informed the participants that the practice of FGM is not Farda (obligation)
nor Sunnah. He observed that people are
now aware that there is no honour in the practice because it affects the health
of women.
The Deputy Chairperson of Kuntaur Area Council and Ward
Councillor for Janjanbureh, Ebrima Janko Foon called on parents to take
responsibility to protect girls and women from the practice because it has come
to light that it has no religious significance, furthermore women and children
are suffering from its effects.
The Health Official in Janjanbureh health centre, Kumba
Ceesay called the attention of the participants on the impact of FGM on
maternal and infant health. She informed
them that GAMCOTRAP role is supporting the Ministry of Health effort to improve
maternal health. She pledged to include
FGM in health talks during ante natal clinics with nursing mothers. At Sami Karantaba, Health Officer Dodou Sonko
informed participants that they are always faced with challenges to help women and
children affected by the effects of FGM.
He cited a recent case of a girl who died while on referral to a major
hospital due to uncontrolled bleeding caused by the practice of FGM.
Speaking earlier at Sami Karantaba Tobokoto, Chief Kassum
Leigh reiterated that FGM is not a religious issue but a traditional
practice. He referred to a well known
scholar from the region who clarified that FGM is not an obligation on Muslim
Women. He further informed the
participants that the six Chiefs in the region support the advocacy for a law
to protect the rights of women and girls from FGM in the Gambia. He noted that neighbouring countries have a
law against FGM and it is being enforced to protect vulnerable
girl-children.
One of the known Circumcisers in Sami, Mbuleh Kandeh of
Bayaba testified that having been aware of the impact of the practice she has
taken the decision to stop but appealed for support for an alternative
livelihood. Other speakers calling for
an end to FGM included youths, School teacher, women and men from thirteen (13)
Mandinka dominated communities in Karantaba Tabokoto Cluster.
At Chamen Nainija Cluster, women of reproductive age and
mainly from Fula communities from thirteen (13) villages participated at the
training. Addressing them, Chief Alhajie
Davis Allasan Cham called on the women to be aware of the impact of the
practice on their reproductive health and that of their daughters. He highlighted that religion can no longer be
used to justify the practice because
people are now aware and the local authorities including all the Chiefs of the
region have given their public support to the campaign to stop FGM in the
area. The Nainija Chief informed the
young mothers that GAMCOTRAP is raising awareness of the communities before a
law is in place. He also took the
opportunity to sensitize them on early and forced marriages and called on them
to allow girls to grow and not to marry them off before they are 18 years of
age.
In their testimonies, participants pledged to protect their
daughters and noted that they would not accept Circumcisers travelling into
their communities to conduct the practice.
At Janjanbureh, EU Non State Actors Programme Manager,
Cristina Valentza and the NSA – SP Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, Ms. Kay
Sey witnessed the training and noted with satisfaction GAMCOTRAP’s approach to
reach the grassroots.
Resource Persons included Imam Baba Leigh, Muhammad Sanuwo,
Bakary Badjie of the Child Protection Alliance amongst others.
During the training workshops Traditional Communicators and
drama groups in Janjanbureh, Sami Karantaba Tenda and Konteh in Nainija also
used theatre and songs to sensitize the participants on the practice of FGM.
It could be noted that there is increased acknowledgement
amongst local religious leaders that FGM can no longer be claimed as a
religious issue because Islam does not promote any unnecessary suffering
amongst its ummah and the dignity of the woman is respected. Some of the Alkalolu present at the different
activities also encouraged the women to stop the practice before a law comes
into force. They all noted that health
is a priority for all and called on Religious leaders to should speak out and
make it clear to their followers that
FGM is not a religious injunction.
Prepared by GAMCOTRAP
22nd
December 2011
Thanks for sharing the efforts on making a difference in the lives of women and children.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the efforts of GAMCOTRAP in the promotion and protection of women and children's rights, the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation in particular.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the efforts of the media in the advocacy against FGM and Women's rights
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