By Mariama Marong / Makutu Manneh
The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) has commenced a three day national training on the prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and sexual harassment.
The objective of the training is to allow judicial officials, health personnel and civil society organisations to understand the concepts, causes and effects, and the consequences of gender-based violence, and for them to also look at the medical and psychological care of survivors of GBV, from admission to health and judicial facilities, to the closure of files and socio-economic re-integration and education.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Fatou Kinteh, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare highlighted the importance of the training and said it reaffirms their collective commitment to address the pervasive issues of gender based violence.
“As we gather in Banjul, we do not only reaffirm our collective commitment to address the pervasive issues of gender based violence but to also take the bold step forward in our journey toward creating a safer and more equitable society for all,” Minister Kinteh said. She said the three-day training represents a critical moment in their ongoing efforts to combat GBV, and adds that the issue remains one of the most pressing challenges in the ECOWAS Region, with the devastating consequences on the rights, health and well-being of women and girls.
She said GBV is a violation of human rights that transcends age, class and ethnicity, and it affects individuals in both urban and rural communities. She said the training is not only to take stock of the achievements gained, but it is to formulate a national road map that will guide the effective implementation of the SGBV strategy in The Gambia.
“Let us use this workshop as a stepping stone towards a future freedom from gender based violence,” she said, and called on gender actors to draw inspiration from the resilience and courage of survivors and to redouble their efforts to create a society where dignity, equality and justice will prevail.
Claude Kondor, the political advisor to the residential representative of the President of ECOWAS to The Gambia at the training, said ECOWAS has recognized gender based violence as a critical impediment to social and economic development within the Region.
He said ECOWAS is commited to foster a region where all individuals particularly women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.
“ECOWAS has developed a comprehensive regional strategy to prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence, as well as a policy on sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions,” Mr Kondor said. He asserted the significant challenges in combating GBV in The Gambia which he said is to the deep beliefs, customs and traditional practices that normalize violence and discourage survivors in seeking redress. He also harped on the insufficient funding for GBV prevention and respond program, weak enforcement of legal frameworks, the enabling of perpetrators to evade justice and the inadequate reporting of GBV cases that is pending as well.
Mr. Kondor reiterated the commitment of the Regional Body in working with The Gambia government and other member states, to create a region free from gender based violence and to ensure that all women and girls in West Africa are safe.
Dr. Odile Ndoumbe Faye, the Regional Gender Officer at the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, said the training is very crucial in enlightening judiciary officials, health workers and civil society organisations on the prevention and response to gender based violence and sexual harassment. She said there is high respect for culture and tradition, but said this should not be used to violate the rights of individuals. She said the issue of child marriage and female genital mutilation are challenges hampering the development of women and girls.
Mrs Faye said training judicial and legal officers is key in the dispensation of justice to survivors of GBV, and emphasized the pivotal roles that health workers, civil society organisations and the judiciary plays in shaping the lives of survivors. She urged actors to make the best use of the training and ensure that they are equipped with adequate knowledge.
