By Binta Jaiteh
Girls Guide Association has called for the eradication of female genital mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence (GBV).
Salima Badjie, a member of the Girls Guide has disclosed to this medium that their advocacy is extended to everybody in The Gambia and the targets are religious leaders, teachers, students and mothers with every other stakeholder that they feel will add value to their work in ending FGM.
She said their partners are based in The Gambia and abroad, which among them are Safe Hands for Girls, Think Young Women and partners with Network Against Violence that is fighting for women. While their donors included UNFPA The Gambia, Amplify Change a Global Fund for Women Vital Changes.
“This is all partners who fund most of our activities to strengthen the women. We empower young women and girls through different means like capacity buildings, radio programs, and life scale call ECO Power that train young girls especially the dropout and young teenage mothers on food processing without depending on others,” she added.
According to her, Girls Guide is a female led organization found in 2014, and the organization is advocating for young women with the key reasons to fight against harmful practices against women that includes FGM, GBV, Child marriage and all other forms of violence that violate their rights as a women and young children.
Ms Badjie noted that in their 2019 pilot project which was a self-funded was a successful one “though every success has a challenge that when it comes to eradication of FGM due to the deep-rooted culture some is an insult since it has been existing for decades.”
Meanwhile, Sainabou Tunkara, representative of MoGCSW said that they are always partnering with stakeholders and different NGOs to fight against female genital mutilation. The sensitization process includes radio programs, to enlighten more on the effects and harmful practices FGM has caused to young girls.
Fatou Bangura, MoGCSW joined others and said when it comes to gender-based violence in regards to the welfare of the women, the Ministry of Gender is always ready to make a stop to the traditional effects because of the dangerous effects it causes.
