By Tabora Bojang
At least twenty-five police officers mainly prosecutors and child welfare officers over the weekend completed a four-day training on Female Genital Mutilation FGM.
The training held at TANGO conference hall in Kanifing was organized by the Youth Anti-FGM Network and funded by the Girl Generation.
Speaking on the occasion, Modou Lamin Davis, chairperson of the network said FGM is a human rights violation and has health hazards.
According to him, the Youth Anti-FGM Network is a network of local and national youth organizations fighting against the practice of FGM in the country.
He urged participants to take the training seriously and to join the fight against FGM as it undermines the growth and wellbeing of the girl child.
He applauded The Girl Generation for supporting the network implement a six-month project on FGM which includes training of police officers and radio programs.
He reminded the participants that there is a law in the Gambia prohibiting FGM in all its forms and manner and should work hard towards its enforcement.
Meanwhile, at the end of the training, participants recommended among others for more of this kind of trainings to be organised for security officers nationwide. They also called for the services of medical examination by doctors on sexual violence case including FGM are made available in all health facilities.
The topics covered included; the definitions, forms, settings, causes and consequences of FGM, GBV; presentation on provisions from both national and international legal instruments such the Women’s Act 2010, Sexual Offences Act 2013 and the Domestic Violence Act 2013, CEDAW, UDHR.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Nfamara Jawneh, senior member of Youth Anti-FGM Network the Gambia. He reaffirmed the network’s commitment in working towards ending FGM in a generation.
