“It is a known fact the roles and effective participation of women and girls including in the decision making processes and other spheres of life in our present generation has become more crucial and important,” she said, while addressing the ICESCO Proclaimed Year of Women 2021 on the theme: ‘Women in Future’ in Rabat, Morocco.
She added that women still play important roles in our society such as politicians, pilots, finance specialists, entrepreneurs, judges and diplomats.
“Women and girls actively partake in shaping and making the world we live into a meaningful place; by developing it, improving it and making it even more equitable. These are people of ideas framing the intellectual questions and concerns that will guide the future thoughts and are part of the shapers of the future world.”
“You will agree with me that since two years ago to this very moment, it has been a difficult and challenging time for the entire globe, particularly for the most vulnerable individuals and countries. The COVID 19 crisis is exposing fragility of all our systems, our complex dependence upon one another and the provision of health care as the most basic fundamental human rights.”
“Some of the world leaders including the country I hail from; the Republic of The Gambia, have one thing in common, very dynamic women leaders who have adopted a human security approach to the crisis that goes beyond the political debate focused on the health of the population versus the health of the economy. Rather than engaging in us versus them politics, looking for a culprit to blame the crisis on, these women leaders have promoted solidarity, compassion, and humanity among their citizens.”
“The intervention, therefore, of ICESCO to proclaim throughout 2021 as a Year of Women, whereby the Organisation seeks to honour women and promote their leading roles and high status as part of ICESCO’s new vision contained in its Strategic Plan 2020- 2030 is inspirational, innovative and an empowerment.”
“We have reliably learnt that the series of celebrations of this event from the onset included lines of actions namely conferences, forums, programmes and projects, studies and awards as well as initiatives, which focus on empowerment, rehabilitation, capacity-building and integration of women within society as well as combatting illiteracy, ensuring the rights of girls to education and addressing gender discrimination.”
According to VP Touray, this is greatly encouraging and rewarding in any organisational set up.
“Most strikingly, I am proud and at the same time honoured as an activist to learn that ICESCO is seeking to ensure equal opportunities, ICESCO female staff members as part of the Model Women Staff Member Programme.”
“This is indeed great and I am happy to state that the Government of The Gambia has adopted the same model and concepts since the advent of the new dispensation of the new Gambia and we will endeavour to collaborate and cooperate more with you to enhance areas that need specific expertise.”
“I call on ICESCO to double these wonderful efforts of solidarity and humanity because it only yields dividends after all. I also urge the organization ICESCO on peace building, peaceful co-existence and peace advocacy to reach out to the population and communities and foster a guaranteed future for our people. The women and youth are very critical given the current global instability emerging everywhere.”
