Gambians Rise for Justice

Amie Bojan-Sissoho leading the procession 

 One Billion Rising For Justice, an event being held around world turned out a moment filled with emotions and joy under the unnoticed hot and typical African burning sun in The Gambia, demanding justice in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation and domestic violence.

Done in a style, The Gambia commemorated the event with  a procession and symposium at TANGO offices where hundreds of people women, men, youth groups, institutions and school children rose up to dance, singing very emotional songs.

One Billion Rising for Justice is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely outside places where they are entitled to justice. Places like courthouses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places.

In The Gambia, GAMCOTRAP, a woman’s right NGO, who have over the years been very active and effective in the promotion of women and children’s rights lead the activity. The organisation is well known for its stance against harmful cultural practices particularly those that relates to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other discriminatory early practices. They joined the global energy to strike, dance and rise against Violence against women calling for an end to FGM, marriage and other gender discriminatory practices affecting women and men.

Ex-Chief Justice Yet to See a Doctor, Trial Commence

ExChief Justice Wowo

Ex-chief Justice of the Gambia has told the Special Criminal Division that he is yet to see a doctor as ordered by the same court on Monday.

Wowo who is standing trial together with the former justice minister, Lamin Jobarteh said he was not taken to the hospital.

A prison officer however, told the court that he’s just received the ordered when the judge inquired.

Wowo who is yet to get a Gambian who can bail him with a landed property is standing trial on 13 counts of abuse of office, frauds and breaches of trust, conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings, giving false information to a public officer and assumption of authority.

While Jobarteh is only charge with two counts: conspiracy to defeat justice, offences relating to judicial proceedings

The two are said to have succumb to negotiation over a pending case before the court of appeal which act was an interference with the due executions of legal proceedings before the court of appeal.

Charges they strongly denied.

Meanwhile a police officer attached to the major crime unit has testified as the state first witness. Jawo Keita who was part of the panel said he obtained the cautionary statement from first accused (Wowo) in connection of the allegation made against him.

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. 

'Every child has a right to live without exploitation'

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Exploitation can come in many ways but every child has the right to live their life free from exploitation from those who should protect them, says United Kingdom’s deputy High Commissioner to The Gambia.

George Sheriff said exploitations especially sexual exploitation happens in the families and communities in The Gambia, and that it is the responsibility of all to combat it. ”It is our responsibility to ensure that not only do we identify it, and report it, but to sensitive others to play a more proactive role in countering it,” he said.