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FLAG sensitizes religious leaders on violence against women

Jun 25, 2013, 11:15 AM | Article By: Malamin L.M. Conteh

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The Gambia Female Lawyers Association (FLAG) recently organised a daylong sensitization and capacity-building workshop for religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations on the domestic violence and sexual offences bills.

The forum, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi, was funded by Action Aid International The Gambia.

The seminar aimed at sensitizing religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations on crucial issues and concerns in the said bill, hoping to bring about better understanding and appreciation of these issues.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the president of FLAG, Ms Naneh M.C. Cham, pointed out that FLAG, incorporated in 2006, is an apolitical, non-partisan and non-profit-making organization of the female members of the legal profession whose aim is to promote and protect the rights of women and children.

She noted that one of their main objectives is to lobby for gender equality in The Gambia through the legislative reform, public education and advocacy.

She said further they seek to procure and work towards protecting the wellbeing of women and children.

According to her, their members have also been giving their time, effort and expertise in the form of legal advice and representation to indigent women and children, for the past seven years.

For her part, Fanta Jatta Sowe, representative from ActionAid The Gambia, explained that ActionAid started working in The Gambia since in 1979, and were dealing in service delivery and providing foodstuffs to the schools, but they later realised that was not the most effective way of alleviating poverty.

As a result they started working with the communities, she said, adding that Actionaid is working to protect women and fight violence against women.

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