U.S. Embassy Hosts Forum for Gambian Women Leaders, Focusing on Empowerment and Gender Equality
Women Leaders At the US Embassy Forum
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The U.S. Embassy in Banjul, on Thursday, hosted a powerful forum, bringing together over 100 Gambian women leaders from various sectors for a day of networking, empowerment, and tackling crucial issues surrounding women’s leadership.This impactful event served as a platform to celebrate achievements, address challenges, and pave the way for a brighter future for Gambian women.
The forum addressed crucial empowerment issues, specifically honing in on challenges associated with women’s leadership roles. Distinguished participants from diverse sectors, including the diplomatic and consular corps, government, private sector, and media, gathered for this impactful event.
Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, the First Lady of The Gambia, graced the event at which Susan C. Solomon, Public Affairs Officer and Leader of the US Embassy’s Women Empowerment Leadership, highlighted the pivotal roles women play in society and underscored the embassy’s commitment to supporting women and girls in The Gambia.
Solomon noted that over 53 percent of their assisted business start-ups are owned by women, emphasizing their thriving success. The embassy expressed its dedication to educating young women and girls, with Solomon stating, “This is the time for celebration and coming together to advance gender equality because to repeat it once again, it’s abundantly clear that when women progress everyone,” he said.
Her Excellency, Sharon L. Cromer, the US Ambassador to The Gambia, emphasized the crucial role of gender equality in a nation’s economic development. Quoting a World Bank report, she stated that closing gender employment gaps could boost global GDP by almost 20 percent. Cromer highlighted that working women typically invest 90 percent of their earnings in their children and households, contributing to the success of families, communities, and countries.
Cromer urged the women present to make a personal commitment to advancing gender equality within their spheres of influence, stating, “A gender-inclusive economy is a strong, more resilient one. I urged the women in this hall today to make a personal commitment to advance gender equality within your own circles of influence,” she said.
Addressing the challenges faced by women in The Gambia, Mariama Darling Jallow, the wife of the Vice President, who spoke on behalf of the First Lady of The Gambia, called for action to invest in education, emphasizing the need to protect women and girls from sexual and gender discrimination.
Jallow highlighted the under-representation of women in leadership positions in The Gambia, pointing out the significant challenges they face in accessing resources and support. She acknowledged that women, despite constituting the majority of the Gambian population, are often the poorest in society. Jallow called on women to actively unite in their efforts to dismantle barriers, celebrate achievements, and foster a world where every woman can thrive.
“Women constitute the majority of the Gambian population and are yet the poorest in society. However, acknowledging these challenges is just the first step,” she said.