The Gambia launches activism campaign against gender-based violence
Banjul, Gambia (PANA)- Network against Gender Based Violence in partnership with United Nations Development Fund on Monday launched a 16-day activism campaign against any form of violence in Gambia.
The campaign seeks to end sexual violence in workplaces and harmonize efforts to end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence in the country.
This year marks 27 years since the launch of the campaign in 1991, seeking to eliminate violence against people especially women around the globe. It also seeks to reflect the core principle of transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reinforces the UN Women Campaign to a world free from violence for all women and girls.
The Gambia is signatory to the convention that protects women and children from all forms of violence.
National coordinator Fallou Sowe said at a news conference organized by Action Aid that gender-based violence is a “grave human rights violation.”
He said: “Despite all the advocacy and awareness creation done by civil society organizations and Government institutions in partnership with UN Agencies and donor organizations to end all forms of violence against women and girls over the past two decades, gender- based violence and discrimination against women and girls still continues to be a big threat to women and girls in our communities, work places, educational institutions and security forces.”
He said despite implementation of domestic laws against gender-based violence, “the laws are not effectively enforced to achieve the desired goal”.
Meanwhile, Halimatou J Jesuorobo, project manager – National Gender Based Violence commended UNDP The Gambia office for funding this year’s celebration and campaign against gender-based violence in the country.
-0- PANA MSS/AR 25Nov2019
