Speech by Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda - UNFPA Orange The Gambia

• Her Excellency, Madam Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
• Honourable Minister of Women, Children & Social Welfare
• Honourable UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia
• Honourable Representative of UNFPA 
• Distinguished ladies and gentlemen

Good evening to you all

It is with great pleasure that I join you here today to launch “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)”.

Thank you to the UNFPA Representative Kunle Adenyi for hosting this landmark lighting ceremony to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence.

It is very fitting that this ceremony take place at the Westfield Youth Monument, which acknowledges the vital role of young people in the development of our municipality.

We know that GBV disproportionately affects young women and girls. As leaders, we need to find innovative ways to alleviate the social and economic burdens carried by young women and girls.

Financial stress is one of the contributing factors to GBV in our communities. Kanifing Municipal Council, as the steward of public markets in the municipality, is working to enhance economic opportunities for women through enhanced market facilities and improved sanitation services in KMC’s markets. By enhancing market facilities, the Council believes women will have more resilient livelihoods to navigate future financial emergencies.

KMC’s Nominated Councillor for Women, Ms. Bineh Marong, led the establishment of D100 million fund for the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the municipality. This initiative is one way that the Council is helping to alleviate the financial constraints of women and help them to become financially independent.

Another important initiative is the development of solar-powered cold-storage facilities for women vendors. In partnership with the British High Commission, the Council launched the first solar-powered cold-storage for women vendors to store vegetables in Serrekunda market. Councillor Bineh is leading KMC’s efforts to replicate this initiative in other markets throughout the municipality.

Obviously, economic empowerment is only one way in which we can empower women and make strides towards ending gender-based violence in our communities.

By listening to the voices of the young women and girls who are affected by GBV, I believe that we, as a society, can re-define what is socially acceptable, while still upholding pride in our traditional culture.

I would like to challenge all young people and residents of Kanifing municipality to answer the call to be a good neighbour and an “active by-stander”. When you see someone in your compound or on the street, mistreating some else whether by calling them “names” or grabbing them in an inappropriate manner. Speak up! Ask them how you can help. Or if you don’t feel comfortable intervening, maybe call a friend or an elder to come and intervene. We all have a role to play in protecting our most vulnerable and changing what is socially acceptable in our communities. As an “active by-stander”, we can play an important role in ending gender-based violence here in KMC.

To Her Excellency the First Lady and the Honourable Minister, be rest assured that KMC is ready to work hand-and-hand with you in the journey to end GBV in The Gambia. My team and I believe that this is a common issue that we can all work on together.

To the UN Resident Coordinator and Representative of UNFPA, the Council appreciates the continued partnership of your institutions and believes that together we can eliminate GBV.

Thank you.

Talib Ahmed Bensouda Lord Mayor

Kanifing Municipal Council