The
Girl Generation (TGG) Tuesday commemorated the 2016 International Day of the
Girl Child to talk about the progress registered in the work already done in
The Gambia.
The
Girl Generation is a global campaign that supports the African-led movement to
end FGM.
The
campaign amplifies the issues on the stage and brings attention to
inspirational stories of change from some of the most affected countries in
Africa including The Gambia.
TGG
accelerates the worldwide movement to end FGM by galvanizing action, supporting
campaigns across Africa and pushing for more resources to end FGM through
effective use of social change communication and capturing of positive stories
of change.
TGG
is a membership-based organisation with growing number of members in The
Gambia.
International
Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United
Nations.
The
observation supports more opportunities for girls, and increases awareness of
inequality faced by girls worldwide based on their gender.
The
International Day of the Girl Child initiative began as a project of Plan
International, a non-governmental organization that operates worldwide.
October
11, 2012 was the first day the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child
was commemorated.
Speaking
at a press conference held at NaNA conference hall, Haddy Jonga, programme
officer at TGG, said October 11 was set aside by the United Nations to reflect
on the issues affecting girls worldwide and to see how to address them.
She
said issues affecting girls is not something people should sideline, adding
that people must not underestimate issues affecting girls but should see the
need to always talk about them and find solutions to them.
“There
are 1.1billion girls around the world, therefore, their voices must be heard;
their issues must be addressed and world leaders should be able to sit down to
address it,” she said.
Also
speaking at the press conference was Sise Sawaneh, TGG media ambassador, who
said a lot has been achieved in The Gambia regarding the protection of girls, women
and children, but there is still a lot more to be done.
To
achieve this, she said, one could only do it by amplifying the voices of girls
and by coming together to talk about issues affecting girls and children.
Ms
Sawaneh said the media plays a crucial role in creating awareness and bringing
change to the plight of the girl child, saying the media is key to enhancing
national development.
TGG
Survivor Ambassador, Oumie Sisoho, described the day as a moral opportunity, to
demand respect as well as protection of the sexual and reproductive health
right of every girl and woman in The Gambia.
She
said talking about the protection of girl or woman from FGM, she said FGM is
something that just does not affect the health of girls, it is also seen as a
holistic issue that affects their freedom, liberty, integrity, health and
psyche.
Maria
Newland, activist ambassador of TGG, and Musu Bakoto Sawo of TGG both expressed
similar sentiments.
