Message from the UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia to Commemorate International Women’s Day 2025

On International Women’s Day 2025, I join you all in celebrating women and girls worldwide, particularly in The Gambia.

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, it is essential to remind ourselves that women’s rights are, without question, human rights. 

From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the international and regional human rights architecture affirms that women and girls are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of their rights.

The protection and advancement of women’s rights is also a crucial enabler of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Investing in the rights of women and girls is an investment in the social, political, and economic well-being of nations. When women and girls are empowered and given equal opportunities to succeed, societies flourish, economies grow, and peace is more likely to be sustained. 

We must also recognize and address the specific challenges faced by vulnerable and often marginalized groups, such as women with disabilities amongst other who face intersectional discriminations and pronounced barriers to accessing their rights and opportunities.

In 2025, we commemorate  the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark global framework for the advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. 

The anniversary is a moment for reflection, to acknowledge challenges and renew our commitment to break down barriers that impede the full realization and enjoyment of rights for women and girls in The Gambia. 

I commend The Gambia for its continued efforts to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.  

These actions reflect the Government’s commitment to upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

However, there is still work to be done and opportunities to sustain the progress achieved. 

We recognize that achieving gender equality requires sustained effort, including in the areas of participation, freedom from all forms of violence, freedom from discrimination and access to opportunities.

The United Nations remains firmly committed to supporting The Gambia in its journey to achieve the full realization of the rights of women and girls including for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

We recognize the important role of all our partners in this work, including the government,  civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, development partners and the private sector. 

Your efforts are vital in advocating for legislative and policy change, providing essential services, and challenging harmful social norms. In a climate of shrinking resources and where fundamental human rights are being questioned, it is more than ever important that we stand firmly united. 

On this International Women’s Day, let us all reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that all women and girls in The Gambia live in dignity, free from violence and discrimination. 

Let us work together to protect their rights, empower them to reach their full potential, and create a Gambia where gender equality is no longer an aspiration, but a reality.