Youth council, partners discuss efforts in ending FGM, others in The Gambia

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

The National Youth Council (NYC) in partnership with youth organizations and development partners on Saturday disclosed their contributions to ending harmful traditional practices in The Gambia.

These harmful traditional practices subjected to discussion include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

The forum aimed to enable NYC and the organizations to reveal the efforts they made in ending the aforementioned practices.

It also helps the participants to identify factors leading the continuation of these practices as well put mechanisms in place to end them.

Addressing participants, Lamin Darboe, executive director of NYC said the forum is significant in enabling the participants exchange knowledge and ideas as to how they can eliminate these hurtful practices.

“Over 68% of Gambian women are young; therefore, we have a natural linkage with the women bureau. And there is need for us to work together,” he said.

Aminata Jaiteh, programme officer at Girls’ Agenda said her organization have been working greatly to make sure FGM/C and other forms of harmful traditional practices are abolish in the society.

She added that her organization conducted series of sensitizations for youth, students and community leaders in their drive to raise awareness on the health effects of FGM and child marriage.

Fatima Jarju, programme manager at Think Young Women (TYW) said: “We have organized intergenerational dialogue forum for youth and elderly to ensure that they know the health implication of FGM.”

She added that TYW have sensitized many children on sexual violence, adding that they have encouraged children to report sexual violence against them to concern authorities.

Muhammed Lamin Jarjusey, from He For She organization said his organization also raises awareness of students on early marriage.

Sarjo Camara, project coordinator on strengthening women’s economic initiative at Action Aid International -The Gambia (AATG), said AATG international has been working with Network against Gender Based Violence (NGBV) to make sure gender based violence ends among the populace.