Statistics revealed that around one in three women experienced sexual or physical violence in their lifetime, similar to the global prevalence rate. However, most of these abuses remain largely unreported due to impunity, silence, stigma and fear.
We are cognizant of the fact that the government of the Gambia has and continues to renew and strengthen its commitment to improving access to utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services including family planning, to prevent maternal death and to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence.
Recently, the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with UNFPA The Gambia launched The Gambia Investment Case, a document that details compelling evidence on the need to invest in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls.
This report represents a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of the challenges and opportunities the country faces in achieving transformative results in maternal health, family planning and gender-based violence. However, the launch of this important report couldn’t have happened at a better time than now, when the health of women and young girls remains a concern to authorities especially those at child bearing age.
The rate at which domestic and gender-based violence is occurring results in our community’s demand for a second thought, even though the government has demonstrated its political commitment to ending this scourge.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal five, talks about achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. However, achieving zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender based violence by 2030, will be a far fetched reality ‘if women and girls continues’ to face domestic abuse amid high prevalence of gender-based violence.
Thus, this report also reminds the government and stakeholders of the need to invest in the health and wellbeing of women and children. It is a popular adage that investment in the health, wellbeing and the empowerment of women and girls, is simply investing in the future of our nations.
Women are not only our sisters, wives and mothers, but they are our role models and play a key role in the advancement of societies.
We therefore salute the government of the Gambia, UNFPA Gambia office and all partners for their unwavering commitment to addressing the pressing issue of maternal mortality, family planning and gender-based violence in The Gambia.
It is only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.
Fight against domestic and gender-based violence is a continuous process and let’s all show commitment towards making the Gambia a safe haven for all.