The
Executive Director of Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA), Yankuba Dibba,
has said that a girl-child is not only a piece of work, but an asset for
national development.
Mr
Dibba’s statement was delivered on his behalf by Modou Njie, senior programme
officer at GFPA, during the commemoration of ‘All Girls Day’ organized by the
Youth Action Movement (YAM), a youth group created by GFPA, with the theme:
“Protecting Girls’ rights is our responsibility”.
The
activity was funded by the United Nation’s Population Fund, UNFPA.
Youth
Action Movement (YAM) is a strategy that was designed under the auspices of the
Gambia Family Planning Association’s New World for Youth Project, with the aim
of building capacity and empowering young people from the age of 10-24 on their
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH) needs, so as to serve as peer
health educators.
YAM
chapters have been formed across the country with a membership of over 500.
All
Girls Day was set aside by YAM to put the spotlight on every girl-child who in
one way or the other has lacked or is being denied the right to SRH services or
information.
The
celebration attended by youth groups and organizations, as well as students
from tertiary institutions, was held at the Youth Monument at Westfield on 8
September 2016.
The
GFPA Executive Director added that a girl is expected to be healthy, safe,
educated and empowered.
However,
he said, in reality accepted social norms in The Gambia provide a gateway for
harmful traditional practices such as child marriage.
Mr
Dibba said the unequal power relations, poverty, the denial of their right to
control their sexuality and bodies must be addressed in order to address these
practices, adding that of recent a law has been enacted to address these
practices.
He
continued: “It is anticipated that government will continue to realize the
sexual and reproductive rights of adolescents, both the married and the
unmarried, by investing in sexual and reproductive health and providing
competencies in sexual and reproductive health rights, information, education
and services that are accessible to girls’ of all ages to realize their sexual
and reproductive health rights”.
Dibba
said if every girl is valued and given equal opportunities as their male
counterparts, they would be freed from not only early marriage, but all forms
of violence.
Mr
Dibba thanked UNFPA for funding the activities of YAM for the past years.
Baboucarr
Kebbeh, speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of National Youth Council
(NYC), revealed that studies have shown that girls and women who are educated
and marry later are more likely to earn an income.
They
invest that income in healthcare, food, education, childcare and household
durables, directly contributing to their country’s economy and development, he
added.
He
said: “Women who have their babies later in life are healthier, have educated
children and help end perpetual cycles of inequality, discriminations, abuse
and poverty.”
He
stressed the need for men to stand firm by their sisters, and serve as social
police in the quest to enable them realized their dreams and aspirations.
“We
cannot tackle these abuses and violations in isolation. There is an
inextricable link to abuses and exploitation that affect many girls and women
throughout their lives. The call for a strong information seeking, strong
campaign and advocacy, but most importantly each of us should be his/her
brother or sister’s keeper to address these challenges,” he said.
Baboucarr
Penn, the Kanifing YAM Chairperson, said he was pleased to reiterate that GFPA
recognizes that young people have sexual and reproductive health needs and
rights that ought to be respected and addressed.
He
said this was why the association established a youth-friendly center, which is
a model facility and the first of its kind in The Gambia.
“The
New World for Youth Project situated at Bundung aims at empowering young people
to take decisions about their reproductive health and rights, and providing
them with services to live a healthy life.”
He
gave the genesis of YAM, and added that their activities include advocacy
related to SRH and the rights of youths and adolescents, as well as behavioral
changes, peer education and counseling and events which allow social
interaction and learning between young people.
The
celebration was characterized with drama performance on access to SRH services,
musical performances, and the awarding of certificates to members who have
rendered selfless support to YAM.
Baboucarr
Penn was awarded with a trophy for being the most hardworking YAM member.
