The comments come in a bid to foster women's participation, end FGM, and address gender violence.
The awareness programme was organised by Gender Platforms, targeting women, local councils, and district authorities to build a strong community solidarity framework for social mobilsiation and advocacy against all forms of gender-based violence.
Governor Ramatoulie Sarr of Lower River Region (LRR) welcomed the campaign members for the enlightenment, stating the importance of women's involvement in decision-making.
She pointed out the struggles women go through in their marriages and urged them to discuss or report any violence against them. She added that such violence escalated if they failed to report.
Governor Sarr also spoke about the effects of FGM and recounted the recent ban on it, saying that women should support such action (ban) because it was the best decision.
“We should allow our children to be educated until tertiary levels. No parent should allow their children to be involved in an early marriage,” the Governor said.
Governor of West Coast Region, Fanta Samateh Bojang urged women not to keep quiet over violence happenings in their houses and communities, adding that if they did not address certain hardships they go through, their problems would never be solved.
“Most women face the same challenges of violence and that is why it is important to come together and dialogue about issues affecting us”, the WCR Governor stated.
Ken Mendy, Police Commissioner, LRR, alluded to the importance of women's contribution to society, adding that the police complement the law and if women spoke out the violence against them, the problems could have been narrated differently.
“The law is above everyone and the fact that FGM is now banned, we should respect it. If you do not agree with a particular law, consult your National Assembly Member who is there to represent your constituency”, Commissioner Mendy pointed out.
Momodou Jallow, education director of Lower River Region also emphasised the issue of early marriage, saying child marriage had become rampant in societies as mothers take the lead in forcing their children to get married at a very early age.
“And if such happens, mothers stand hard for that case to be settled out of police or court. They never wanted such matters to be reported.”
Binta Senghore, youth representative from the West Coast Region, advised women to speak up rather than being quiet over heinous issues that repeatedly happen in their societies.
“Mothers should not keep quiet about issues affecting their children. Nowadays, other parents go the negotiating table to bury the problem that could have been reported to the police,” she pointed out.
