FLAG trains Magistrates on SGBV laws

The training held at Ocean Bay Hotel, attracted Magistrates, stakeholders and partners with a view to addressing SGBV comprehensively and to improve the legal response, and to prevent the recurrence of such cases. It also seeks to send a strong message that SGBV will not be tolerated in the country.

Moreover, the confab also seeks to provide participants with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills, equipping them to handle complex and sensitive SGBV cases more effectively.

The forum will ultimately lead to a fairer and more just legal system and for the successful prosecution of SGBV cases, reporting of cases, complaints to the Police and Attorney General’s Chambers of SGBV and other women and children’s rights violations in communities by survivors and members of the community.

At the opening ceremony, Ingo Badoreck, director Rule of Law Program sub-Africa Konrad Adenauer Foundation, lauded The Gambia for the giant strides made, revealing that the country has made significant strides in enacting legislation to safeguard the welfare and protection of women and children.

Despite these legal frameworks, he added that SGBV remains highly prevalent in the society, with instances occurring in homes, workplaces and even on social media platforms.

The existence of legislation alone, he observed, is not enough as effective implementation and enforcement are essential to combatting this pervasive issue.

“This training is not merely a gathering of legal professionals but a pivotal opportunity to drive meaningful change and ensure justice for survivors of SGBV. Our overarching objective is to build the capacity of magistrates on SGBV laws, leading to significantly higher successful prosecution of SGBV cases and improved reporting of violations within our communities.” he added.

He thus thanked FLAG for its foresight in training judicial officers, who will in turn play a key role in the entire justice system and empowering magistrates with the necessary knowledge and skills to address SGBV cases effectively.

Justice Isatou Sey, who was represented the Chief Justice of The Gambia, expressed optimism that the confab would further enhance the expertise of magistrates, thus guaranteeing sound judicial decisions and improve court performance.

She expressed optimism that this would also ensure an efficient justice system for victims and survivors.

Justice Sey lamented the prevalence of domestic violence in The Gambia and thus calls for urgent need for justice. 

“Survivors often suffer in silence, while perpetrators believe their actions are normal. I can assure you that the Judiciary is committed to making a positive impact in society by delivering fair, impartial, and transparent decisions.”