Hosted by the embassy, the bantaba or convergence brought together more than 40 Gambians from all walks of life who recently returned from a study visit to different Universities in China.
Organised under the theme "Her Power, Our Voice," the Bantaba served as a platform for participants to share experiences, lessons learned and exchange views on advancing women's empowerment.
Ambassador Liu Jinemphasised that women’s empowerment is never just about women, but it concerns every family, every community, and the future of an entire nation.
Highlighting on China's path to Women’s Empowerment issue, he revealed that decades ago, in many places of China, a girl’s destiny was the kitchen, who had little chance to go to school, let alone participate in public life.
Today, he said, Chinese women are engineers, lawyers, diplomats, scientists and they hold up half the sky in every field.
"This change is not a miracle, but rather the result of decades of sustained investment in education, healthcare, legal protection, and in creating opportunities," he said.
Ambassador Liu Jin added that China’s commitment to Women’s Empowerment is long-standing and global, explaining that in 1995, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women.At that conference, he said, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted and remains one of the most important guiding documents for the advancement of women worldwide.
He added that last October, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that conference, China, together with UN Women, co-hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, bringing together representatives from over 110 countries to reaffirm their shared commitment to gender equality, which shows that China is committed to walking this journey together with others on women’s advancement.
However, he pointed out that every country has its own path, and no one’s formula can be copied outright, noting that women’s empowerment is a broad proposition which encompasses education, health, economic participation, and decision-making space.
"It is about every woman, at every age, having the dignity to develop,” he stated.“Investing in women is investing where it counts most. This is something China has learned firsthand, and we believe our Gambian friends share the same understanding - because within The Gambia’s greatest resource, its young population, women and girls are at the very heart."
Among participants sharing the China experience, Fatou Drammeh, Senior Program Officer at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA),said that as participants, they went through lectures to understand China, especially the development process of China in which women have a pivotal role to play.
She said she was amazed by the women advancement programs in China, adding that Chinese women attach dignity to professional work, with respect, commitment, determination and hard work.
"As a small country, I think we can also achieve what China has achieved if we put compliance as priority," she said, challenging her fellow participants to replicate in The Gambia knowledge gained from the trip.
She further thanked the Chinese government, Ambassador Liu Jin and the embassy for giving them the opportunity.
