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| A procession against Female Genital Mutilation February 6, 2012 during Zero Tolerance to FGM celebrations (Photo credit: The Daily News) |
A local
women rights agency in The Gambia Thursday joined the global campaign “One
billion rising to end violence against women”.
The campaign
is initiated by One Billion Rising,
an inspiring global movement.
On Feb. 14,
2013, the Gambia Committee on Traditional
Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (Gamcotrap), organised
a procession from the traffic lights junction in Fajara to the offices of the
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in The Gambia (TANGO), in
Kanifing.
Gamcotrap, a
leading women’s rights organisation in The Gambia, works on sexual and
reproduction health and rights of women and girls.
Extreme
violence
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| Beachside with a donkey cart in Gambia. Français : Le bord de mer et une charrette tirée par un âne. Gambie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This is a
part of the many reasons that the organisation is proud to be associated with
the One Billion
Rising to end violence against women, said Omar Dibba, the agency’s
youth programme coordinator.
“Young
people, this day belong to you, it is your day and moment to say no to violence
in all its forms; it is your moment to champion the global fight and honour the
lives of women and girls,” Mr Dibba said.
Article 19
of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, CRC, defines
violence as all forms of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect
or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.
“The most
extreme forms of violence against children include sexual exploitation and
child trafficking, female genital mutilation, worst forms of child labour and
impact of armed conflict,” Musukuta Badjie said.
The
Programme Officer Child Protection Alliance (CPA) said violations are happening
on a daily basis where children are exposed to physical, sexual and
physiological violence in homes, schools and institutions.
Youth
activist Siaka Dibba said “men have crucial role to play as fathers, brothers,
husbands, friends, decision-makers, community, and opinion leaders by speaking
and acting against violence against women and girls.
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| Gambia costume (Photo credit: Muchaxo) |
This will
ensure priority attention is given to this issue, Mr Dibba stressed.
On Thursday, people around the world rise up together to protest, dance, march, and sing in a shared voice to demand an end to violence against women and girls.
One Billion Rising campaign was observed by human rights activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, women and men worldwide who express outrage, demand for justice, demonstrate, and rise in defiance of the injustices women are suffering.
On Feb. 6, 2013, Gamcotrap reiterated calls to the Gambia Government to criminalize female genital mutilation, FGM, during celebrations marking International Zero Tolerance to FGM.
The tiny West African country is still notorious of cultural practices like FGM, which is known to be inimical to health and well-being of women and children.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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