The Female Lawyers Association – Gambia (FLAG) stands by the statement of the Gambia Bar Association released on 12th December, 2016 condemning the announcement of the outgoing President Yahya Jammeh, made on 9th December 2016 wherein he sought to annul the results of the 1st December 2016, Presidential elections.
FLAG associates itself with the interpretation by the Gambia Bar Association of the provisions of the Constitution that the statement of the outgoing President Jammeh is an abrogation of the Constitution of the Gambia and amounts to treason.
It is the position of FLAG that, failure by the outgoing President to step down and hand over power to President elect Adama Barrow may cause civil unrest and instability in the country. It is an imperative outcome that in situations of civil unrest in any country the most vulnerable victims in the society are the women and children. As a Civil Society Organisation whose main aim is to promote and protect the rights and welfare of women and children, it is our position that the outgoing President should hand over power immediately and respect the will of the people of the Gambia and thus safeguard the peace and stability of our dear motherland.
In this respect, FLAG hereby calls upon the Vice President and Minister of Women’s affairs, Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, who has the duty and carries the portfolio of women’s right, welfare and well-being in Government, not to condone or collude in any activity that has the potential to affect the rights, welfare and well-being of women and children in the Gambia.
We also call upon the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, Mama Fatima Singhateh, Chief Legal adviser to Government and also member of FLAG, to advise against any unconstitutional manoeuvre by the outgoing President.
FLAG further calls upon the Vice President, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Female Government Minister, Female Heads of Government Institutions, Female Senior Security personnel, who are grandmothers, mothers, sisters and guardians to abstain from any activity, event or process that is likely to jeopardise the welfare and well-being of the people of the Gambia.
We specifically recognize and urge the following Female Heads of Institutions in all arms of Government to standby and champion the will of the people of the Gambia and to uphold the constitution
- Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the National Women’s Council
- Female judges and Magistrates
- Minister of Basic and secondary education (responsible for girl children in the Gambia)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Brigadier General and all Senior Female Officers of the armed and Security Forces
- Solicitor and Legal Secretary
- Executive Secretary National Women’s Bureau
- Director of Social Welfare
- Chairperson, Gambia Women’s Federation
- Female Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Institutions
We finally call upon the women of the Gambia in all works of life to stand up peacefully for the Gambia our homeland that we may all love in peace and unity in line with the Constitution, and all national and international Women’s and Children’s right Instrument.
