By Seedy Jobe
The Gambia’s Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Welfare said Wednesday that advancing gender equality and expanding access to justice for women and girls remain central priorities for the government, as global leaders gathered at the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Speaking during the conference, which brings together governments, civil society groups, and U.N. agencies to shape international standards on women’s rights, the minister, Fatou Kinteh, said entrenched legal and social barriers have long limited opportunities for women and girls.
“For far too long, historical and legal systems, discriminatory practices, structural barriers, and a male-dominated environment have hindered women from achieving their full potential in society,” Ms. Kinteh said.
The session focused on the theme “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls,” a topic that participants said remains critical in many parts of the world where legal protections exist but enforcement remains uneven.
“Our gathering here today resonates with the necessity and the commitment to creating a conducive environment to achieve a world in which every woman and girl enjoys the full range of rights and freedoms,” she added.
She said that ensuring access to justice was essential not only for protecting rights but also for strengthening democratic institutions and national development.
“Equally important is the exigency to emphasize that access to justice is a fundamental right and that legal equality is crucial for strengthening our respective countries,” she stated.
Ms. Kinteh said the government of The Gambia, under the leadership of President Adama Barrow, had made the advancement of women and girls a key policy priority.
“My country is working to combat discrimination, eliminate violence against women and girls at home and abroad, expand access to women’s health care, support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, and encourage women’s economic and political leadership.”
The meeting is part of the annual gathering of the Commission on the Status of Women, one of the largest global forums dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Delegates from around the world are expected to negotiate policy recommendations aimed at improving legal protections and expanding opportunities for women and girls globally.
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