International Women’s Day was celebrated on Thursday March 8, throughout the globe. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Ending Impunity for Gender Violence against Women and Girls”

In the Gambia, the event was celebrated by women in the form of a match-past and presentation of papers on the theme, at Tango Resouce Centre in Kanifing.

Mrs Binta Jammeh Sidibeh, APGWA’s Executive Director, in her presentation, described violence as using or treating force, and thereby causing injury or death in some circumstances with or without the intention to kill. “When the word violence is mentioned the majority of the people only think about physical abuse. There is an act that is visible, such as beating, stabbing, shooting and throwing objects. These are very serious act of violence, but they are only a tip of the ice berg,” she noted.

According to her, evidence has shown that violence against women is associated with issues relating to poverty, low level of education, and in many areas, poor housing, unstable marriages or female-headed households. “Even in The Gambia, the majority of landlords who are men refuse to rent their houses to female household-heads or single mothers. Experience had shown that a single mother tenant normally experience harassment from her male landlord,”she indicated.

Mrs Jammeh Sidibeh, then revealed that World Bank estimates that violence against women kills and incapacitates many.

For his part, Mrs Adelede Sosseh Gaye, Executive Director of World View, said violence against women is a form of discrimination and violation of human rights, as it causes untold misery to women around the globe.

Ousman Yarbo, Director of Tango, thanked Action-aid The Gambia, for making the event successful.

Other speakers at the ceremony included NAMs- Haddy Nyang-Jagne and Tina Faal.