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Momodou
Denmark
11604 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 11:27:32
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Jarra, Kiang Communities, Women Leaders Sensitized on FGM and Other Women’s Rights Issues
Monday, March 07, 2011
GAMCOTRAP has reached out to more than three hundred and sixty communities and women leaders in the Lower River Region (LRR) of The Gambia during a recently concluded series of community based training workshops as part of activities supported by Asturian NGO, ODAM ONGD.
The six-day sensitization workshops were held at Pakaliba, Suntukung, Jappineh, Kwinella, Jirrof and Tankular villages. The activities targeted the six District Chiefs of the Region, Alkalolu and Women leaders. The opinion leaders including circumcisers and Traditional birth attendants also participated in the training workshops.
The objective of the Training Information Campaigns was to sensitize the community and women leaders on the impact of Female Genital Mutilation, Women and Children’s Rights, Gender Based Violence and to clear misconceptions that FGM is an obligation in religion. Other issues discussed were early and forced marriages and teenage pregnancy.
On legal reform, participants were informed that the Gambia is one of the nine countries in Africa that are yet to enact a law against FGM. They are informed about the efforts being made in the advocacy to have a law to protect women and girls from the practice as enshrined in Article 5 of the Africa Protocol on Women, which the Gambia has signed and ratified and need to domesticate into its national laws.
Representing the Alkalo of Tankular, Fabakary Drammeh said the Gambia should not be isolated from global development efforts, in particular the campaign to ban FGM.
Speaking on Islam, FGM and Rights, resource person, Oustass Abubacarr Kanteh of Soma, informed participants about Pre-Islamic practices found in Madina and that FGM is not an obligation. He noted that Islam would not condoned practices that are harmful to Muslims, especially women and children. He also reminded participants of their obligations towards their families.
Speaking at Pakaliba, a religious leader from Jalangbere, Kandeh Juwara noted what he heard from the workshop was in line with Islam and pledged his support to the campaign against FGM and he was optimistic that FGM will stop. He called on parents to take responsibility towards their girl children.
At Jarra Sutukung, deputy Imam, Baba Kanagie told participants that after benefiting from GAMCOTRAP’s training, he did further consultation and he had realized that the organization is on the right track. He also noted the reproductive health challenges women are faced and that called on men to also give support to the campaign to end FGM. He said to stop FGM is for the benefit of humanity and that all of society should work together to stop the practice. He advised that women should pay heed to the advice given to them during the training. He said it was his duty as a religious leader to inform his people.
Apart from the support of religious scholars in the Lower River Region, all the chiefs in the region declared their support to end FGM in the presence of their communities.
Amongst the issues raised was concern over the impregnating of school girls while those responsible go on earning their living. The appreciation of women as partners with men was acknowledged and to promote women’s rights.
The outcomes of the trainings in Lower River Region included the consensus amongst participants to stop FGM, as well as the commitment to inform their communities about the knowledge gained. The Chiefs, Alkalolu and Women leaders also pledged to take leadership and responsibility to stop FGM in their communities. The other highlights of the trainings are the public declaration by some religious scholars to support the campaign. Such development is a manifestation that women have to read and gain knowledge to decide their own destiny and men would support them.
The Head Chief of Lower River Region, Seyfo Yaya Jarjusey of Jarra West, and his colleagues in Jarra and Kiang thanked the Alkalolu and Women leaders for their positive response and good turnout to the programmes and urged them to take the message back to their people.
By GAMCOTRAP
Visiting Address:
Plot 41,
P.O. Box 2990
Kanifing Municipal Area
Serrekunda, The Gambia
Postal Address:
P.O. Box 2990
Serrekunda, The Gambia
Telephone Number: 00220 4399569
Fax Number: 00220 4399568
Email: info@gamcotrap.gm
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2011 : 14:47:18
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This is fantastic! What a brilliant piece of community education.
I do hope the women take it back into their communities and educated their friends and colleagues.
Men need educating too, that a women who has not been circumcised is acceptable to marry and bear children. There is nothing unclean about being intact.
The girls that don't have FGM done to them should be free to play with other children and not be ostracised.
I hope Gambian women (especially in the villages) will have the strength to stand up against the tradition and say NO to it for their daughters. It isn't easy for them as there is alot of social pressure. |
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