By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh
Women and girls have been undermined, discriminated, and gone through various forms of Gender Based Violence for decades all around the world. The fight to end GBV has been a collective effort between government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations.
The ministry of women, children, and social welfare of the Gambia in partnership with the UNFPA has launched the State of the World Population Report 2020 and the National Gender Based Violence hotline. The event was held on the 30th June at the Paradise Suites Hotel located in Senegambia.
The state of the world Population Report is UNFPA’s flagship report which seeks to the current position of global efforts on population issues especially the needs, issues and current conditions of the youths, girls, and women globally. The theme for this year’s report “Against my will: Defying the practices that harm women and undermine equality” which focus on the three most prevalent harmful practices: Female Genital Mutilation, Child Marriage, and extreme bias against daughters in favor of sons.
The implantation of the helpline (call center) will be done by the Paradise Foundation. The Gender Based Violence helpline will serve as a professional council unit and provide psychosocial support for victims of GBV. With the hotline 1313, the government of the Gambia with its partners believe this would serve as a great means to helping victims of GBV especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
