Crusade to Empower Women!

Global Unification’s crusade to Empower Women!

REPORT ON GU CRUSADE TO EMPOWER WOMEN PRESENTED BY MADIBA SALLAH ON 17TH MARCH 2008 AT THE OFFICE OF AFRICA IN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE, CHURCHILLS TOWN.

As part of the activities marking the international women's Day, Global Unification-The Gambia under its women welfare domain on Saturday 15th March 2008 organised a seminar on women's empowerment and their rights to decision making. This program was held at the Kanifing Municipal Council chamber. It attracted various stake holders in the struggle for the empowerment in the Gambia, notably school children, members of civil society organisation, NGOs, Women groups and other leading figures in the Gambian society.

In his is welcoming address and speaking on the behalf of women's welfare Coordinator, Gladys Bojang, Ebrima S. Dem highlighted the significant of the day. He started by taking the audience briefly into the mission, objectives and future activities of the Association. He told the gathering that Global Unification-The Gambia is a legally registered Research and Development Association with the objectives of advancing humanity in the Gambia and beyond. This he said includes: poverty alleviation, democracy, women's empowerment, youth welfare, children's welfare among others.

Dilating the association future activities Mr. Dem said the Global Unification is working closely with GU international local partners to establish ICT Resource Centre. He said, this centre will provide training and internship opportunity for young people and also serve as focal point for all GU advocacies and Campaign activities.. He went further to say that GU also is working on a magazine that is on its advance stage. This magazine he said will for feature major issues affecting humanity such subordination of women to men, child protection, environment, human rights and democracy..

Coming back to discussion of the day, Mr. Dem indicated that Global Unification-The Gambia have noted with utmost concern that the population of women in Africa is continuously increasing, yet they continue to be one of the most vulnerable group to common difficulties and crises, thus making imperative for GU to join hands in advocating for the advancement women.

The guest speaker of the seminar, Mr. Sheikh Omar Faye the Coordinator of Gender Unit at the Management Development Institute, started by thanking Global Unification for coming up with such a laudable initiative. Speaking on the topic: "The role of women in the unity construction and development of Africa: which strategy to adopt", Mr. Faye said that the inclusion of women in decision-making process at all levels in the country and internationally is long overdue. He stressed that Africa will know no unity and sustainable development if the women folk continued to be neglected, citing the three roles of women as productive, reproductive and community work. He went further to challenge women welfare advocators to shift from talking more and doing less, to the reverse, if indeed the equality between men and women we talking about are to be achieved in Africa. He said, the tendency of seeing men campaigning for women rights as pro-women should be done away with and stigma attached to it to be a thing of the past.

He finally advised participants of the seminar to perpetuate what they have learned in "this important function" by spreading the message to their communities and organisations.

Also Speaking at the seminar on the topic: Women, Africa unity and development: the path of African renaissance, Professor Nikodemus Fru Awasom, a senior lecturer and Head of the Master's program of African history at the University of the Gambia said: in as much as people fail to understand the actual meaning of women empowerment or gender equality, there is always bound to be problems in ensuring a gender sensitive society in Africa. He said, in most communities in Africa and Gambia in particular, any time the issues of gender equality are discussed, it is always misinterpreted and taken to be as a western idea that aim to only uplift the statues of women to oppose their men counterpart. He went further to say that these misconceptions and misunderstanding has caused family break-up in many homes. Therefore, he said, the actual meaning of gender equality must be fully understood by those who advocate for it and then put it to the local communities in a language they understand. He however asserted, there is now slight improvement in the mentality of people with regard to women's rights. He cited that "in just the very short past no body ever thought of organising such a forum as we are seeing today", but looking at the turnout, it is true that the message is now being slowly but surely understood.

Also speaking at the seminar, Fatoumata Bah, the National treasurer of Global Unification-The Gambia thanked all those who in one way or the other made the seminar a success. She noted with pride that the representation of the various organisations and NGOs, who, despite their busy schedules were able to attend the program. "I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all of you especially the management and staff of KMC for not only allowing us the hall, but also took part in the program itself she", concluded.

The program ended in form of question and answer session and refreshment.