Think Young Women holds stakeholder forum on FGM

The event, which attrcated Civil Society Organisations, was aimed at engaging in a constructive dialogue and formulate strategies to accelerate the elimination of FGM.

At the event, Njundu Drammeh, board chairman of Think Young Women, said FMG is a human rights issue in the heart of development, and as a result, they cannot use culture and religion to violate the rights of the people.

He indicated that, The Gambia is a signatory to many international organisation bodies in protecting rights of the citizens thus these need to be taken into consideration on the decision to repeal the FGM law or not.

The state, he went on, has the responsibility to protect and promote the rights of its citizens for the betterment of the country,further expressing optimism that the FGM repeal Bill at the parliament will fail at its second reading stage.

Ndeye  Rose Sarr, UNFPA country rep in The Gambia, said FGM is a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence that inflicts severe physical and psychological harm on women and girls.

“It is a deeply entrenched cultural practice that requires a collective and sustained effort to eradicate,” she said.

She explained that through the convergence and other efforts, they seek to foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives can be shared, challenges addressed, and innovative solutions can be explored.

“We must collectively do more to pave the way for a future where every woman and girl in The Gambia can live free from violence, discrimination, and the harmful practice of FGM,” she added.

Think Young Women (TYW) is a non-profit organisation aimed at the development and realisation of the rights of young women and girls in The Gambia.

With a misison to inspire and assist young women to achieve their individual needs and collective interest, the women-led NGO has been key in leadership development and empowerment through capacity building, awareness raising, networking and mentorship.