Back and Next - Back and NextAPGWA celebrates Int’l Women’s Day
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Following the celebration of International Women’s Day set aside annually on March 8, the Association for Promoting Girls and Women’s Advancement in the Gambia (APGWA) in collaboration with Africa in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG) last Tuesday gathered together to celebrate the International Women’s Day at the Serekunda Mini Stadium.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘men and women united to end violence against women and girls.” During the celebration, the Lord Mayor of KMC, Yancouba Colley said the important roles women play in national development cannot be over-emphasised. He said; “within our very own socio-cultural context, women and girls play the most important part in the day to day running of our homes. Most time, men and boys are away and it is the women and girls that stay to take care of the house”.
He then added that the absence of men from home is not always intentional or sign of idleness or abdicating from one’s responsibilities but men too have a moral responsibility of providing a lot for the household although women also contribute a lot in it. For her part, Binta Jammeh-Sidibe, executive director of APGWA reminded the gathering that worldwide, March 8 was unanimously set aside by the United Nation General Assembly as the International Women’s Day. According to her, the day is set aside for all governments around the world, civil society organisations, private sectors and all men and women to reflect on the achievements of women, their challenges, trials and tribulations.
She then observed that some sceptics may wonder why ‘violence against women,’ but according to her, where there is violence, there is no peace. “Just as when there is war, there is no peace and subsequently, there can be no development. In the same vein, when women’s rights are violated, women cannot find themselves in a well conducive environment to realise their potentials to contribute towards national development,” she noted.
She then confirmed that around the world and Africa in particular, women encounter various forms of violence at the work places, schools, homes and within communities. The APGWA boss then highlighted some various forms of violence which occur in communities such as physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual abuse especially at the schools and work place.
She then warned that if women continue as victim of violence, they can never be empowered and thus, eradication of poverty and the economic empowerment which government, international donor agencies and other human rights movements are advocating for, will never be realised. She urged men to realise that women are their partners in development.
Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaema, director of program at APGWA called for effective use of national legal systems to eliminate discrimination against women, promote gender equality and stop violence against women. According to him, over the past two decades, many states have adopted or improved legislations to prevent and respond to violence against women, guarantee equality between women and men and to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.
Lamin K Saidy, deputy speaker of the National Youth Parliament urged everyone to fight gender base violence by enforcing zero tolerance in all forms of violence against women and girls, advocate for equal representation of women and men in all activities in the public sphere so as to create public awareness of women’s contribution to society. The event was marked with presentation of awards and grants to some affiliated members such as that Serekunda Central Women Development Association who received D10,000.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘men and women united to end violence against women and girls.” During the celebration, the Lord Mayor of KMC, Yancouba Colley said the important roles women play in national development cannot be over-emphasised. He said; “within our very own socio-cultural context, women and girls play the most important part in the day to day running of our homes. Most time, men and boys are away and it is the women and girls that stay to take care of the house”.
He then added that the absence of men from home is not always intentional or sign of idleness or abdicating from one’s responsibilities but men too have a moral responsibility of providing a lot for the household although women also contribute a lot in it. For her part, Binta Jammeh-Sidibe, executive director of APGWA reminded the gathering that worldwide, March 8 was unanimously set aside by the United Nation General Assembly as the International Women’s Day. According to her, the day is set aside for all governments around the world, civil society organisations, private sectors and all men and women to reflect on the achievements of women, their challenges, trials and tribulations.
She then observed that some sceptics may wonder why ‘violence against women,’ but according to her, where there is violence, there is no peace. “Just as when there is war, there is no peace and subsequently, there can be no development. In the same vein, when women’s rights are violated, women cannot find themselves in a well conducive environment to realise their potentials to contribute towards national development,” she noted.
She then confirmed that around the world and Africa in particular, women encounter various forms of violence at the work places, schools, homes and within communities. The APGWA boss then highlighted some various forms of violence which occur in communities such as physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual abuse especially at the schools and work place.
She then warned that if women continue as victim of violence, they can never be empowered and thus, eradication of poverty and the economic empowerment which government, international donor agencies and other human rights movements are advocating for, will never be realised. She urged men to realise that women are their partners in development.
Edwin Nebolisa Nwakaema, director of program at APGWA called for effective use of national legal systems to eliminate discrimination against women, promote gender equality and stop violence against women. According to him, over the past two decades, many states have adopted or improved legislations to prevent and respond to violence against women, guarantee equality between women and men and to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.
Lamin K Saidy, deputy speaker of the National Youth Parliament urged everyone to fight gender base violence by enforcing zero tolerance in all forms of violence against women and girls, advocate for equal representation of women and men in all activities in the public sphere so as to create public awareness of women’s contribution to society. The event was marked with presentation of awards and grants to some affiliated members such as that Serekunda Central Women Development Association who received D10,000.
Author: by Yunus S Saliu
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