By: Mariama Njie
Wassu Kafo Gambia in collaboration with Partners on Wednesday commemorated intentional day of zero tolerance on female genital mutilation.
It aimed to improve girls and women’s conditions and gender equality under the frame work of EU funded project, also to review and update what has been done on FGM\C and share success stories and good practices.
Speaking at the opening Ceremony, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Representative said, Female Genital Mutilation leads to long term physical, psychological and social consequences.
“It violates women’s rights to sexual and productive health, physical integrity non-discrimination and freedom from cruel”, he added.
According to him, 4.1 million girls around the world are at risks of undergoing FGM.
“This is a grave cause for concern and a call to rapid actions, to ensure the fundamental human rights of our women and girls are protected”, he stressed.
He further explained that, in 2015, 193 countries including the Gambia overwhelmingly backed the elimination of female genital mutilation as one of the targets in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
“We need politics and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination”, he added.
Mr. Adeniyi, also said there is a need to empower young girls by giving them the tools to become more influential, productive actors in their societies.
We need to galvanize the global movement to accelerate efforts to elimination female genital mutilation, he said.
Professor Adriana Kaplan, Executive Director of Wassu Kafo Gambia, described the international Day of zero tolerance on FGM as key, saying it is celebrated Every 6 of February annually.
“Is important that we hold and celebrate this day in the Gambia, we bring together every stake holder, every institution and the government to speak about the issues on FGM and learn about good practices, and move forward together”, she lamented
Hon. Sainey Touray, on behalf of Speaker of National Assembly, said: “at the level of the national assembly we are very much passionate about issues concerning human right”.
He stated that, the right and freedom of girl children are very close to the heart of the national assembly.
“The assembly pride itself in champion the cause of women, children and to make sure they are protected from any form of violations”, he said.
He pointed out that, the girl children should no long be subjected to any violations.
He further commended the UNFPA for their immensely contribution in building the capacity of national assembly members in regards to the girl children.