Pro-Hope International The Gambia, with funding from MAMA Cash organisation in the Netherlands, recently held a forum on domestic violence against women.
The forum, held at the Joint Officers’ Mess in Kotu, discussed issues of domestic violence and mapping out the way forward by advocating for a domestic bill that will guide women from domestic violence and other forms of harassment.
In her welcoming remarks, the board chairperson of Pro-Hope International, Isatou Dibba, expressed delight at the high level participation of women at the event.
The forum is an opportunity for the women to raise their concerns pertaining the domestic violence that they face on daily basis, Madam Dibba said.
She also stated that the turnout of the women at the forum was a clear indication that the women were very much concerned about issues relating to their welfare.
“This forum will help the women to push their agenda forward in addressing issues affecting them,” she said
For her part, the technical adviser to Pro-Hope International The Gambia, Loveness Chisatah, thanked the women for their contribution and concerns raised during the forum.
She advised women to work in unity to ensure the issue of domestic violence becomes a thing of the past in The Gambia.
“The aim of the organization is to see how best domestic violence can be eradicated in our society,” he said.
According Micheal Demba Jawo, programme coordinator, the driving force behind the formation of Pro-Hope International in The Gambia necessitated the empowering of women, especially rural women, with appropriate programmes.
He said the goal of the organisation is to enhance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, promote the socio-economic empowerment of women to enhance their involvement in the society, and increase the participation of women in decision-making processes at all levels.
He said they also work towards eradicating all forms of gender-based violence, in particular domestic violence, and promoting a culture of gender sensitivity in The Gambia.
