By Sulayman Ceesay
Six communities within the North Bank Regions of The Gambia have pledged their commitment to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage in their various communities.
They made this commitment recently during the Night Film Shows on Never Again FGM/C and Child Marriage in The Gambia organized by National Youth Council with support from UNICEF Gambia in North Bank Region.
The campaign that covered the six districts of the region was meant to increase knowledge and skill of communities on the dangers and complications associated with FGM/C and Child Marriage and increase awareness among adolescent boys and girls on the dangers attached.
The five days sensitization targeted women, girls and youth of Mademba Kunda, Upper Niumi, N’gayen Sanjal, and Farafenni, Upper Baddibu, Kerr Omar Saine, Jokardu and Essau Lower Niumi districts respectively.
Alagie Jarju, program manager, NYC said: “We are advocating for behavioral or attitudinal change with regards to the mindset or mentality people have towards the practice and eradication of FGMC/Child marriage.”
Pa Modou Gaye, N’gayen Sanjal, Upper Baddibu said child marriage and FGM are issues that need to be openly discuss with youth, parents and children as well in order to raised more awareness and move to totally end it in the country.
Kumba Gaye, a grade 12 student, N’gayen Sanjal expressed her dissatisfaction in the manner in which parents forced their children (girl child) into marriage instead of allowing them to complete their basic education.
“Many a times, you see a very intelligent girl doing very well in school, but from nowhere she is withdrawn for marriage without any reason. This is not fair at all, we as girls have right to education and we should be allow to fulfilling that right,” she stressed.
Haddy Saine, women leader, Kerr Omar Saine, Jokardu said Child Marriage and FGM are practices that affect the health of women and girl child. She calls on parents to stay away from the practices, describing it as bad traditional practices that have no benefit to women and girls.
Mati Kebbeh, said the practices are bad traditions that every parents should distance themselves from as is not something that people should follow.
“It is our moral responsibility to protect our children from all forms of harmful practices, which include child marriage and FGM/C. I am committed to work with people to end it in our community,” said.
She stressed that, the fight to end these practices will never be achieve if people did not change the culture of silence and ‘Maslaha’ symptom in the communities.
She said: “Until we change our attitudes towards the culture of silence and ‘Maslaha’ symptom in the communities we would not be able to end the practices in the country.
“Our girls need protection from such practices, all what they need is empowerment through education, skills and others.”
Nyima Ceesay, young girl, calls on parents to protect them from all forms of harmful traditional practices and other harms practices against them.
“All what we need is to be empowered, guided and supported to reach to our full potential. We want to go to school but not maternal house or been cut which may lead to our suffering,” she said.
Alhagie Jobe, a parent challenged his fellow parents to be talking to their children especially girl child and counsel them on issues of sexual and reproductive health.
“We as parent need to protect our children in all cost, because it’s our responsibility to do so. FGM/C and Child Marriage are two practices that have no benefit for our children and women,” he said.
He also challenged girls to listen to their parents and follow their advices at all time, saying this will help to protect them from all forms of harms.
Kaddy Wadda, young girl blamed some parents for not fulfilling their responsibility as required in term of protection and guidance. Some of them did not care about their children’s welfare especially girls.
“This is not helping our society, what we need is protection, guidance and support to realize our full potential,” she said.
Kumba Jallow, resident of Mademba Kunda, said child marriage and FGM/C are practice that affects women and girls and real action is need to eradicate it in the country.
She expressed that law alone is not enough there is need for more sensitization of this type in the communities to raise the awareness of the people on the dangers associated with them.
