Febraury 14 globally, is Valentine day; a day when lovers renew their
love, commitment but women and men in The Gambia have been rising together with
the rest of the world to end violence against women, thanks to GAMCOTRAP.
GAMCOTRAP,
a women’s right NGO, who have over the years been very active and effective in
the promotion of women and children’s rights, particularly those relate to
female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other discriminatory practices joined the
global energy to strike, dance and rise against Violence against women calling
for an end to FGM, early marriage and other gender discriminatory practices
affecting women and men in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
V-day is founded
by Eve Ensler, a journalist and writer for 15 years and is celebrated on
Valentine’s Day globally to bring focus to all forms of violence such as rape,
early marriage, battering, Female Genital Mutilation, amongst others and to
contribute to the global efforts to end these atrocities in every country and
community.
In
preparation of the One Billion Rising 2015, GAMCOTRAP held a press briefing to
update the public on rising to end violence against women in the Gambia. The
executive director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr Isatou Touray said:
“We rise, we dance, we demand for justice but
we now want to change in perceptions and attitudes to dismantle patriarchy and
change institutions to take responsibility to end violence against women. We
have the responsibility to protect women and girls from all forms of harmful
traditional practices, be it female genital mutilation, early and forced
marriages, and break the silence over sexual abuse in the home, school, office
or any other public place
