Statement by Her Excellency the First Lady of The Gambia Madam Fatoumatta Bah- Barrow at the Orange Lighting Ceremony in Commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

• Honourable Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia
• Heads of UN Agencies
• End Gender-Based Violence actors
• The media

Good evening.

As part of activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are gathered here today to officially switch on the orange lights to signify the need for us to accelerate efforts to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence in The Gambia.

As I turn on the lights, I would like to remind us all of our sacred responsibility to protect the fundamental human rights of all, including protecting women and girls in The Gambia from violence and abuse.

I call on women and girls in our homes, communities, workplaces and other establishments to make good use of the national Gender-Based Violence helpline 1313 to report cases, seek information and receive support.

As the slogan reads ‘together we can end GBV’, let us make good use of this year’s theme by funding response services to prevent the physical, psychosocial and emotional consequences that affect GBV survivors.

Let these lights signify our collective decision to expose all acts of violence against women and girls and support the victim.

I again restate my commitment to support all efforts to rid The Gambia of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and ensure a safe place where all can thrive in dignity, good health and wellbeing and accorded their human rights without reservation.

Let us Orange The Gambia: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!