By Makutu Manneh
The Network Against Gender-Based Violence (NGBV), in partnership with the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) and the World Bank, has inaugurated a Regional Ambassador Caravan aimed at intensifying the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), and Sexual Harassment (SH) across The Gambia.
The initiative, themed “From Awareness to Action: NGBV Regional Ambassadors Leading the Fight Against GBV, SEA, and SH,” brings together trained local ambassadors tasked with raising awareness, promoting education, and advocating for change within their communities.
Baboucarr Mbye, Project Coordinator for the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics on Data in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) NGBV Project, explained that the program is designed to strengthen national responses to GBV by equipping community representatives with the knowledge and tools to disseminate accurate information and mobilize action effectively.
He emphasized that ambassadors have been deployed across all regions, receiving ongoing training and support to ensure they can serve as trusted agents of change in their communities. This localized approach, he noted, enhances outreach and engagement on these critical issues.
“The caravan is across the country; the ambassadors will be supported with individual activities that they will be conducting without the Individual monitoring of NGBV because this is the trust we have in them after having knowledge-sharing activities with them. We believe they should be able to share this information with the people,” Mbye stated.
Hamadi Sowe, Regional AIDS Coordinator for the West Coast Region, highlighted the urgent need to address sexual and gender-based violence, describing it as a pervasive problem that often remains hidden. He pointed to the alarming prevalence of cases involving minors, referencing the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl who died during childbirth after being impregnated by her guardian.
“The problem of gender-based violence is us as a people, and we must be ready to tie our belts and break this culture of silence and to fight this evil practice in our societies,” Sowe said.
The Regional Ambassador Caravan seeks to deepen community engagement, strengthen partnerships, and promote collective responsibility in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and sexual harassment (SH).