The training was held to exchange experiences between stakeholders on policies and programmes to combat violence against women. It was held within the framework of an international programme on caring territories for women victims of violence 2021-2024.
Speaking at the SDKJ International Conference Center, Madam Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG, stated that the world is suffering and not a part of the population that is suffering. If violence against women is accepted, the whole of society will continue to suffer, she stated, saying: “We need to talk about it and challenge some of the cultures and norms that believe violence against women and girls is acceptable because it is not acceptable. This is an agenda of dignity, justice and equality. Dignity, justice and equality are not something that you get but something that you construct, insight and concurred.”
She also said it is women's power that would transform the world, saying to do that, women need to convince the men and women who are not convinced yet; an edification that needs to start with the boys and girls.
“It is to them that we need to show the path towards equality,” she said. “It is your sons and daughters that will determine how the future that you trying to forge is going to work. The transformation that we need is not to bring a type of development that does not respond to your dreams, and expectations that don't transform in service provisions that can made life worth living.”
Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, explained that eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls is at the heart of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal. She added that goal five of the SDGs is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
“Target two of the goal is to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls. This is a call to action to end all forms of gender-based violence, particularly violence against women. We don't want to be left behind; therefore, we are involved and contribute to building the Africa we want,” the Mayor said.
She said some of her programmes to empower women and youths at local community development include her ongoing REFELA youth volunteerism programme supported by the UN office and the UNDP, which targets training 500 youths and women on marketable skills and volunteerism both locally and internationally through south-south cooperation and bilateral relations.
Major Lowe emphasised that her office’s EU Banjul-Osteen project has constructed 23 classrooms at Crab Island, a Community Radio and Recording Studio, 700 Capacity Hall, and greening the City by planting coconut at the beach to control soil erosion.
Through the multilateral cooperation with local and national governments, he said, they were able to build a well-structured multipurpose youth complex funded by the World Bank, which the youths are proud of.
