#HearMeToo
PRESS RELEASE ON WOMEN’s March
The general public is hereby invited to Women’s’ March scheduled on Monday the 10 December 2018.
The March is part of events marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence and Human Rights Day
Theme: “Gender-based violence and equal opportunity for women in The Gambia”.
Starting @10am to 12: pm
Meeting Point: National Assembly Entrance
Marching to: McCarthy Square, Banjul
The pioneer of the March, Ms.Fatou Baldeh and partners are commemorating this event to reflect on the importance of the day by calling on general public to participate and mark this day with them.
For decades, Gambian women have advocated for women’s advancement, but it seems we are retrogressing in the pursuit of Gender equality.
On June 2018, The Gambian Government effected a major cabinet reshuffle which reduced women representation in cabinet from 20% to 10%, leaving women acutely unrepresented in national politics.
This totally undermines international norms, and standards as reiterated in instruments such as the CEDAW which calls for 30% women representation, Maputo Protocol otherwise the Banjul Charter, the AU protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the ECOWAS Gender and Development Policy both of which calls for equal representation across all sectors.
We are a group of women fighting for the protection of the rights, health, safety and family of women in The Gambia. We believe that having women in decision making positions is vital in advancing the rights of women and gender equality.
Women’s March is calling on national leaders to listen to our demands for inclusive governance and to agree to tangible, realistic actions addressing the serious underrepresentation of women in governance and addressing Violence against Women and Girls.
“It will be an honour to have you presents at this March and help Gambian Women move this agenda forward” said Fatou.
Ends