Gambians Signing Up for the One Billion Rising Africa

 

GAMCOTRAP has mobilized individuals from Nineteen (19) organizations/ institutions working to promote the rights of women and children in the Gambia.  They were briefed on the initiative on the One Billion Rising pioneered by V-Day and the Africa Regional meeting held in Nairobi.  They were requested to reflect on any of the forms of violence against women just because she as a vagina, whether it is Female genital Mutilation, early and Forced Marriage, Rape and sexual abuse, denial of education, etc.  They signed up to the One Billion Rising because they want to rise up and say no to violence against women and girls. 

 At the community level, GAMCOTRAP continues its mobilization for the One Billion Rising specifically to stop Female Genital Mutilation.  Over a period of nine days, 457 women, men and young people from 107 communities were reached and they came to consensus that they are rising to stop FGM on innocent girls. 

 Amongst the target group reached are traditional Communicators in one of the remote communities in the Central River Region, Dobo and with the support of their village head they dance and are ready to rise up on the 14^th February 2013 to sing and dance to stop Female Genital Mutilation.

 

Also a group from Laminkoto village joined the cluster villages around Banni in solidarity to stop FGM. They sang and dance songs to advocate for the eradication of FGM because of the harmful effects it has on the sexuality and reproductive health rights of women and girls. 

 

An article on “Gambian Voices amongst the One Billion Rising to Say No to Violence Against Women” has been published on the Daily News on the 16^th October 2012 also available on www.dailynews.gm; The Voice published on the 23^rd-24^th October 2012 edition and published in FOROYAA on the 25^th October 2012.

 

 

 

It was also posted on www.gamcotrap.gm; and on the Pulsewire blog on www.worldpulse.com on the 16^th October 2012.