Minister Kinteh paid tribute to the contributions of Gambian women across all sectors of society, noting that the country’s history and progress cannot be told without acknowledging their resilience and dedication. She highlighted the role of market women sustaining households and the economy, female farmers ensuring food security, teachers shaping future generations, healthcare workers serving communities, entrepreneurs creating jobs and activists advocating for justice.
She reminded citizens that the The Gambia Constitution guarantees equality before the law and that the country has ratified key international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Maputo Protocol, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality.
However, the minister emphasised that legal commitments alone are insufficient unless they translate into real-life opportunities for women and girls. Every girl, she stressed, must have access to quality education, while women must be able to own property, access financial services and participate fully in economic life without discrimination.
On justice and protection, Minister Kinteh announced that the government is preparing to inaugurate a Special Court for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, a major milestone aimed at strengthening the country’s justice system. The court, she explained, will fast-track cases, reduce delays, enhance confidentiality and ensure that survivors receive fair and timely justice.
She further revealed that government is operationalising a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Special Support Fund to assist survivors with medical care, legal representation, psychosocial support and temporary shelter. According to her, the initiative will help ensure that victims, particularly in rural communities, are not denied justice because of financial hardship.
Minister Kinteh also called for increased investment in girls’ education and greater representation of women in leadership and political decision-making. She urged parents and guardians to support the aspirations of their daughters and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, agriculture, public service and leadership.
She emphasised that gender equality is not solely a women’s issue but a national development priority that requires the support of men and boys. Promoting respect, partnership and positive masculinity, she noted, is essential for building stronger families and communities.
“As we commemorate International Women’s Day, let this not be a one-day celebration but a turning point for sustained action,” the minister stated, adding that the country’s national celebration would take place in the North Bank Region in April following the observance of Ramadan.
She concluded by urging all Gambians to work together to build a nation where the rights of women and girls are protected, justice is accessible and opportunities are equal for all.
“Your rights matter. Your voice matters. Your dreams matter,” she said in her message to women and girls across the country. “Together we can build a Gambia where equality is not an aspiration but a lived reality for all.”
