The
Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WOJAG) is pleased to announce that
it has legally registered with the Attorney General’s Chambers, Ministry of
Justice, on 6 June 2016.
WOJAG
is a not-for-profit, non-religious and non-partisan organisation set up in
June, 2011, by a group of women journalists drawn from both print and
electronic media in the Gambia.
The
organisation aims to promote the rights and welfare of women in the media and
by extension, women and girls in the country.
Mrs
Sarjo Camara-Singateh, the president of WOJAG, said “The formation of this
association is an important milestone in the history of journalism and women’s
empowerment in the Gambia.
“Women
in the media are faced with a lot of challenges. But their situation is not
very different from what the greater number of Gambian women are faced with.
There are capacity gaps, gender stereotypes and abuses. So, we aim to empower
them to promote gender equity in the media as well as enable them to contribute
effectively to the uplift of women in The Gambia.”
Among
the aims and objectives of the association is to encourage members to promote
the expression of diversity of views and opinions by women, in line with the
provisions of the constitution and other domestic instruments, such as the
Women Act, Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act and FMG Act. .
WOJAG
primarily seeks to enhance professionalism among women journalists through
capacity building and will build partnership with individuals and organisations
interested in the empowerment and development of women.
The
association is open all female journalists and young women aspiring to become
journalists.
Our
appreciation goes to the Gambia Press Union, GAMCOTRAP, Child Protection
Alliance, West Africa Journalists Association and African Centre for Democracy
and Human Rights Studies for their various supports over the years.
The
executive members are: President - Sarjo
Camara-Singateh; Vice-president - Binta Bah; Secretary General - Aminata
Sanneh-Colley; Assistant SG - Amie
Sanneh; Treasurer - Hadijatou Nyang;
Co-opted - Fatou I. Touray, and Co-opted - Haddija Jawara