By Samsideen Ceesay
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Honorable Fatou Kinteh has disclosed that reliable and accurate data can play significant roles in the fight against Sexual and Gender-based violence (SGBV).
Hon. Fatou Kinteh made the disclosure during a high-level Breakfast Dialogue on the theme “Setting up of a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Courts and a National Forensic Laboratory Clinic in the Gambia” recently held at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point, Bakau.
The event organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare in partnership with the International Trade Center and United Nations Agencies in the Gambia, was meant to generate Technical and Financial support for the establishment of a Sexual Gender Based Violence Case Management System and a National Forensic Laboratory and Clinic in the Country.
Minster Kinteh explained that Sexual Gender Based Violence are long-standing complex, pervasive public health concern and human rights violation, that continues to affect the health and well-being of all genders across the globe, especially in The Gambia.
The new platform, she emphasized, will enable the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare (MoGCSW) to coordinate and harmonize services for the accurate data collection on Women and Children issues, minimize the cost of evidence gathering, ensure speedy prosecutions and reduce impunity among perpetrators.
“It is a priority protection issue, and therefore Medical and Public Health Institutions, Humanitarian Aid Organizations, United Nations (UN) Agencies, Governments, and Private Donors can and must cooperate to eradicate SGBV”, Minister Kinteh stated.
These actors she further explained, have responsibilities to establish effective prevention strategies to deal with perpetrators and take action to ensure appropriate survivor support.
