GAMCOTRAP with support from a Spanish based organization, Yolocamba, has embarked on sensitising Brikamaba and its surrounding seventeen communities in the Central River Region on the effects of female genital mutilation on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.

Two hundred participants were the target of the awareness creation workshop held in Brikamaba. In his welcoming statement, the Alkolo of Brikamaba, Alhajie Lamin Nyamo Ceesay, called on participants to make maximum use of the workshop to gain insight into the work of GAMCOTRAP, which he noted is spread throughout the country. Alkolo Ceesay said he was happy with the good turnout and said it is the masses who can bring about change.

He advised the participants to learn form the sensitization as representatives of their people so as to report back based on the knowledge gained. Chief of Lower Fulladu, Momodou Lamin Bandeh, thanked the Alkolo for joining their village representative to  participate in  the sensitization and showed appreciation to the presence of Outass Saikou Fayinke, the Resource person on Islam and FGM. Chief Bandeh told the participants that the success of the sensitization will be determined by how the participants share the information they have gathered.

He advised the Brikamaba Cluster villages to set the pace for the other clusters in the constituency, as the awareness creation is about national development for the protection of children’s future. He reminded parents that they have a role in the protection of children and called on them to take the responsibility.

The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray told the participants that harmful traditional practices affect the rights of children and impede the empowerment of women. She informed them that her organization addresses women and children’s rights, traditional practices as well as violence against women  andcalled on the men to support women’s empowerment. Dr. Touray noted that in the difficult economic situation women are the most affected, especially in a poverty stricken environment.

She highlighted the effects on  women to ensure that the little income they have is used to support the whole family.She therefore called on the men to work with women in instilling discipline in the children. Dr. Touray also advised women not to condone violence but to speak out to put an end to the cycle of sexual  violence against women and girls.

Oustass Saikou Fayinke of Basse Manneh Kunda said female genital mutilation is not a Sunnah or Farda on women and girls, but a mere tradition. In his presentation, Fayinke enlightened participants on the misinterpretation that FGM is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He informed them that non-Muslims who converted to Islam were not asked to cleanse themselves by practising FGM. He called on the education of both boys and girls and for fair treatment amongst them.

The sensitization workshop created awareness on CEDAW, CRC, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People rights on the rights of women in Africa (also called the Maputo Protocol) and the effects of FGM on sexual and reproductive health. The sensitization was attended by the lady councillor at Brikamaba, Fatou Trawally and the chairman of Janjanbureh Area Council, Kekuta Ceesay.

Meanwhile, GAMCOTRAP has engaged sixteen government institutions, NGOs and community based organsization through the Multi-Disciplinary Task Force-MDTF in the Upper River Region, to create awareness amongst the members on GAMCOTRAP’s work towards ending FGM in the region. The workshop held at the Regional Education Office in Base ended with a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the partnership between GAMCOTRAP and the MSTF and called on GAMCOTRAP to provide the MDTF members with training manuals to facilitate community outreach for them. Some have committed themselves to sensitize their own family members as well as use the information  during their village meetings.

It was also recommended to train the Technical Advisory Committee in the regions amongst other issues. The MDFT Coordinator in Upper Region, Lamin Jaiteh thanked GAMCOTRAP for targeting the MDTF members for such an important partnership in the campaign to stop FGM and the protection of children from all forms of harmful traditions.