By Binta Jaiteh
Twenty journalists are currently undergoing a 3-day female genital mutilation and circumcision (FGM/C) training in the Gambia.
The training is meant to engage journalists on Female Genital Mutilation/ Circumcision and child marriage through media campaign. Participating journalists are members of the Network of Gender Journalist for Women and Cultural Advancement (NoGJWCA).
The training is organized by Women’s Bereau in collaboration with Ministry of Women and Social Welfare with funding from UNICEF.
Neneh Touray, official from Women’s Bereau said “gender-based violence continues to affect communities and individuals and it has a great impact in national development.”
To address the issue, She said it needs a holistic approach and everyone participation, while reporting on gender-based violence is critical especially when it involves a minor, as there are rules and regulations that needs to be followed plus the guiding principles.
“The 3-day training on FGM/C, child marriage and child pregnancy are issues that come everyday across the media and sometimes those reporting it do not have a basic knowledge of it that is why we deemed it necessary to train and build capacity of journalists,” on the issue she disclosed.
Madam Touray therefore expected participants to prioritize the knowledge gained from the training to be used to sensitise and educate the masses through their various platforms.
Pateh Baldeh President of NoGJWCA, said as it is not easy to report on women and children affairs as they are sensitive issues that is one of the reasons it’s important to equip journalists to gain basic knowledge of the issue and related matters.
He used the opportunity availed him by the training to dilated on the network past activities saying “the year under review the network visited project sides on horticulture and gardening in rural Gambia. Also assessed the impact of covid-19 on women gardeners in the market and how it affects their livelihood especially in the area of marketing their products.”
