Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs has said that The Gambia has place itself under an obligation to honour and implement the basic tenets of on all forms of discrimination against women.

Speaking at a day validation workshop on the women’s bill at the paradise suites hotel yesterday VP Njie Saidy said her government has made an unequivocal pronouncement, that they are preparing and willing to houour all obligations enshrined in the convention. “The fulfillment of this commitment started with the formation of a national policy with strategic objectives for the advancement of women and girls 1999-2009” she said.

She added that having considered the challenges faced for effective implementation, as indicated in the concluding observation of the CEDAW committee and after reviewing the initial, second and third reports, on the status of implementation submitted by the Gambia, which revealed that effective implementation, is challenged by the lack of harmonisation in the national laws, and effective awareness creation amongst the citizenry. According to her, the very first law, that has been examined, in the drafting process, is the constitution, the Basic and fundamental law of the land.

“ The findings, revealed that, unlike the 1970 constitution, in the second republican constitution, the term discrimination was extended to include discrimination based on gender.The greatest challenge to attaining the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls, go beyond laws, for they are deeply rooted in the foundation of traditional, social, economic, judicial, political and religious structures of society and also the objective of this bill is to ensure the effective implementation of national and internationally agreed conventions, for the effective protection of women and girls rights” VP Njie Saidy noted.

Speaking earlier Aja kassa sanneh chairperson national women’s bureau said this is the final stage in which the council and the bureau under the honourable office of H.E the Vice President progressed from conducting and inventory of laws, reviewed signed and ratified protocols, treaties and conventions, leading to the drafting of a women’s bill, for effective legal protection of women, but taking into consideration their religion and good traditional practices. “The women’s bill which we are validating today aims at protecting the rights of women in the Gambia” she said. Other Speakers at the occasion included Janet Sallah Njie the consultant. The ceremony was grace by senior government officials and national assembly members.