By Mariama Marong
The Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia (FLAG) has held a three-day awareness creation forum in Brufut as part of its Nationwide Mobile Legal Aid Clinic, an initiative aimed at improving access to justice and legal empowerment for women and children.
The sessions, held with different age groups, focused on legal assistance, rights awareness, and community-level support through mobile legal aid clinics. Organizers described the program as a milestone in providing vulnerable groups—especially women and children—greater access to justice.
Speaking at the workshop, Sohna Jaw, Program Coordinator of FLAG, welcomed participants and commended their commitment to learning about their rights. She explained that the clinics provide free legal advice, awareness on rights, and psychosocial support, particularly on issues of family law, gender-based violence, property rights, inheritance, child custody and maintenance, marriage, and divorce.
“Our core mandate is to support vulnerable women and children through legal means,” Jaw said. “Community engagement is very key because it gives women the opportunity to discuss challenges related to law. Sometimes, legal fees are expensive, and that makes it hard for women to seek legal advice. That is why we are reaching out to communities to ensure that women have access to justice.”
Jaw added that FLAG intends to extend the initiative to all regions of the country, noting that the sensitization activities also create space for women to learn from one another.
Brufut Ward Councilor Abdoulie Jammeh expressed delight at hosting the program in his community. He said the awareness initiative was vital in helping women understand their rights, responsibilities, and how to respond to violations both in homes and within the wider community.
“FLAG is here to strengthen our homes and communities for the betterment and advancement of women,” Jammeh said, urging participants to ask questions about gender-based violence and legal rights.
Alasana Gitteh, a lecturer at the University of The Gambia who served as a resource person, emphasized the importance of religion and values in addressing gender and family issues. He criticized what he described as the failure of some parents to instill good values in their children, warning that this contributes to social challenges.
“It is key for women to know their rights and responsibilities for the greater good of society,” Gitteh said, adding that women play a pivotal role in shaping society but often lack knowledge of their legal rights.
Founded in 2006, the Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia is a network of female lawyers committed to protecting and promoting the rights of vulnerable women and children. Its work centers on providing legal services, advocating for women’s empowerment, and using the law as a tool to advance justice and equality.
