Serrekunda, The Gambia, March 07 (IPS) -binta Manneh, aged 15, was eager to test her skills at the outskirts. That night, when she went out to buy a biscuit in a nearby store, she met the given military officers -the men sweared to protect the country.
But one of them became her worst nightmare. He overwhelmed her, silenced her screams and ignored her overlooking mercy. He raped her and stole her innocence, dreams, and sculptures of the future. Binta was not defined.
25 years later, so many girls like Binta continue to suffer. In GambiaOne in three girls experienced sexual violence before age 18 and almost 30%married before reaching an adult.
This violation influences the ability of women’s trauma to pursue education, find employment, and entirely participate in society, creating a malicious cycle of poverty and inequality. If half of the population is alienated and the basic rights are rejected, social and economic progress will be stopped.
2023, Gambia registered 575 sexual violence cases, including rape, sexual assault and intimate partner violence. But no one of the survivors could access the definition and emphasized the systematic failure of the legal system.
1,576 sexual violence from 2014 to 2017 Reported41%of them were associated with sexual violence, and the youngest victims were only 18 months.
Confused, in Para Penny, a security judge Recent fines Despite the 2013 Sexual Criminal Law of Gambia, the rapist D50,000 assaulted a 13 -year -old girl. This reflects the systematic failure of protecting the victim and being responsible for the perpetrators.
International Women’s Day March 8 is a day of celebration of women’s achievements, but it plays a role in reminding us of a wide range of violence faced by women and girls.
While the world celebrates progress, many women like Vinta continue to experience the darkest moments in their lives. Today we have to take action, and we ask as follows: What does our celebrations mean if millions of women and girls are not safe and not protected? True progress is measured not only in women in leadership positions, but only in safety, support and opportunities given to the most vulnerable people.
Gambia is trying to solve and prevent sexual violence in a network of sex, children and social welfare, Gambia Human Rights Commission and Sexual Violence.
My organization Pantaka It also causes changes through mentoring, leadership education and community advocacy programs.
until now Pantaka It has empowered more than 1,000 women and girls, provided psychological and social support to more than 500 sexual violence survivors, and increased the awareness of the community, more cases and more responsibilities.
This effort helps to dismantle the system that can last, and is working hard for women and girls to be protected and valuable. It plays an important role in other organizations, such as the Women’s Lawyers Association, Liberation and Leadership Women, Women’s Association for Women and Victims, and the Agenda of the Great Girls.
The fight against sexual violence requires collective efforts of the government, corporations, communities and individuals.
More powerful laws must be enacted and strictly implemented. The perpetrators must face the actual results, and survivors should provide trauma information support for healing. Individuals and communities must be educated on the conservation of evidence.
Education plays an important role. The school should be a safe space for young girls to encourage remarks, and boys must teach them to respect and protect them rather than wearing harm.
Participation in community is also important. Advocates must work with traditional and religious leaders to use influence to challenge harmful practices and advocate definitions. The family should foster open conversations and ensure that survivors are not ashamed.
This International Women’s Day will not only celebrate progress, but also try to create a world where women and girls are truly safe, supported and granted. Will we be a generation of positions? It’s time to act now.
Mariama job CEO/Founder PantakaPublic health expert and Gambia’s sex definition, youth definition, mental health and transition definition advocacy
© Inter Press Service (2025) -Lee all rights. Source: Inter Press Service
