By Binta Jaiteh
Think Young Women in collaboration with different stakeholders has recently held a campaign to eradicate female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia, as the group aims ending harmful traditional practices and Female genital mutilation.
Think Young women is a young female-led organization with non-profit making organization in the Gambia and the they secured funding from UNFPA under the project title Increasing Meaningful participation of young women in politics and decision making.
Mariama Jom, acting national coordinator TYW said they work with stakeholders that are ensuring to assist their women who are violated.
“The organization with the soul aim of women and young girls to be free from all forms of violation adding that FGM is deeply rooted in our society and needs to be addressed,” she said.
She explained that the organization has contributed immensely in raising awareness to create conducive environment to all women, adding “everybody is aware of the law prohibiting this harmful act against women, but still people are hiding and still practicing it.”
“Those who failed to report and know that someone is doing it is like you creating an environment for such acts. However, we should be at alert in making sure that FGM is eradicated, we cannot do the campaign alone unless and until people join and raise our voices,” she explained.
Awa, a member of the TYW, said the organization secured funding from donors to implement projects for young people to increase participation in governance and decision-making processes. She continued that under the project TYW shall implement a youth fair on female genital mutilation involving various stakeholders.
This fair will be an activity where young people with different talents will exhibit information in form of exhibition with pictorial related to FGM, gender-based violence messages and Advocacy
