‘Neglecting women reproductive health means denying their freedom’

Lamin Camara was speaking last Thursday at Baobab Holiday Resort during the start of a two-day Sexual Reproductive Rights Network (SRR Net) forum, hosted by Think Young Women with support from Amplify Change.

The theme for the national confab on sexual, reproductive health and rights is ‘accelerating the fulfillment of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.’

The national confab is aimed at stimulating dialogue and discussion in The Gambia with various stakeholders on women’s reproductive health and rights.

Moving forward, Camara reminded that working to ensure the sexual and reproductive health rights of everyone remains central to government’s development agenda.

He observed that impacting the generation with roles played by women as not only child-bearers and the coalition between sexual reproductive health and gender equality, even becomes more apparent in reducing poverty and inequality.

Camara thus called for collective efforts between government and stakeholders to educate and inform women to make choices and decisions irrespective of their status, race, tribe and/or religion.

That, he believedS, would ensure universal access to sexual reproductive health and rights. 

For his part, Emmanuel Joof, chairperson for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reminded that the United Nation’s Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women have both on several occasions indicated that rights to health of a woman involves their sexual and reproductive health. 

“The Gambia signed both regional and international treaties and conventions and therefore is obliged to respect, protect and fulfill these rights related to women sexual and reproductive health.”

NHRC chair thus calls for the enactment of laws that safeguard the rights of women in the country.

Kajali Sonko, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Women, on behalf of the minister, acknowledged that The Gambia as a patriarchal society has the concept and belief that women are valued according to their ability to reproduction.

Sonko called for collective efforts to improve the sexual reproductive health and rights of women in the country, saying women and girls have the autonomy to fulfill and exercise their rights.