The event also witnessed the launch of UNICEF legal support and reintegration of child victim against sexual and gender based violence project.
The aim of the project is to address pressing issues of child sexual and gender based violence with efforts at providing understandable legal support to affected children and women.
Anna Njie, president of the Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia (FLAG) in her remarks pointed out the stigma and culture of silence associated with sexual and gender based violence.
She highlighted that, legal support is key in addressing issues of SGBV in the country.
Madam Njie stated that the project would serve as an avenue to uphold the rights of women and children.
The FLAG president said The Gambia has ratified various international protocols and treaties to safeguard the rights of children and women.
Armand Gnahore, UNICEF assistant country representative said the Sexual Offence Act criminalises every form of sexual assault, exploitation and/or harassment. .
According to him, SGBV is a pervasive public health issue and global human rights violation that transcends cultural and economic boundaries.
Ida Persson, special adviser on transitional justice to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice in deputising for the Solicitor General lamented the justice system’s role in mitigating issues of SGBV.
According to her, The Gambia Government has put in place measures to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) cases through the establishment of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.
However, she said despite Government’s efforts, violence against women and girls remains a major challenge in The Gambia.
According to the 2019-20 Demographic and Health Survey, almost half of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence.
Similarly, records have proven that more than one-third of women were married off before age 18, and three-fourths of women had undergone some form of female genital mutilation, even though it is outlawed.
Accordingly, while the Sexual Offences Act punishes sexual violence, it does not cover marital rape.
