reporting from New York
Banjul, 27 March 2026: Hon. Fatou Kinteh participated as the Guest of Honour in a dialogue organized by UN Women and Harvard University under the theme: “From Commitment to Access: Advancing Justice for Women and Girls under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.” The side event formed part of the ongoing CSW70 activities and was held at UN Women’s Conference Room 20 in New York on Tuesday, 17th March 2026.
In her address, Hon. Kinteh emphasized that the WPS agenda remains central to sustainable peace, human rights, and inclusive development. She noted, “By signing international women’s rights instruments, we make commitments to protect women and girls. These commitments must be translated into legislation, policies, and actionable programs to ensure real access to justice, protection, and opportunity.”
Hon. Kinteh highlighted that while the WPS agenda provides a powerful global framework for recognizing women as agents of peace, leadership, and transformation, barriers such as social norms, economic constraints, and institutional challenges continue to limit women’s access to justice and decision-making.
She stressed that national leadership and decisive government action are indispensable. “In The Gambia, advancing women’s access to justice requires a holistic approach combining policy reform, institutional strengthening, community engagement, and political commitment at the highest level,” she said.
Hon. Kinteh cited key achievements of the Gambian government, including the development of national policies and action plans promoting gender equality, strengthening institutions responsible for justice and protection, and empowering women’s role in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. She underscored the importance of community engagement, public awareness, and partnerships with civil society and international organizations to ensure that women and girls can claim their rights.
She concluded: “Let us move beyond commitments to concrete action. Together, through strong leadership, effective policies, and inclusive partnerships, we can build societies where justice is not a privilege for a few, but a right enjoyed by all.”
The Women, Peace and Security agenda, since its inception, has provided a powerful global framework for ensuring that women are not only protected during conflict and crises but are also recognized as agents of peace, leadership, and transformation. Yet, across many societies, women and girls continue to face barriers that limit their ability to seek justice, participate in decision-making, and enjoy equal protection under the law. These barriers may include social norms, lack of legal awareness, economic constraints, and institutional challenges. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach one that strengthens laws, builds responsive institutions, and empowers women at the community level.
By Sarjo M. Camara
