STATEMENT BY UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025

Hon Minister of Gender, Women and Children Affairs,

Permanent Secretaries, 

Mayor Banjul City Council,

UNFPA & UNICEF Representatives,

Representatives from CSOs,

Women Reps across the country,

The Media, 

Distinguished guests and champions of women's rights,

Today, we gather to commemorate International Women's Day with a powerful focus: "For All Women and Girls: Championing the Rights of Women with Disabilities." This theme calls us to recognize the intersectionality of gender and disability, and to amplify the voices of women and girls who face multiple layers of marginalization.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Government of The Gambia for its steadfast partnership with the United Nations. Our collaboration has been instrumental in advancing women's rights and gender equality. The UN remains resolute in its commitment to supporting The Gambia's national development agenda, with gender perspectives at the very heart of our collective efforts. From our programmatic interventions to our internal workplace practices, gender equality is not an afterthought – it is a fundamental principle that guides every aspect of our work.

Women and girls with disabilities represent one of the most marginalized groups in our society – facing numerous challenges of discrimination, exclusion, and barriers that prevent their full participation and realization of their potential. They encounter obstacles in education, employment, healthcare, and social participation that are both complex and deeply entrenched.

Our commitment today is clear: to break down these barriers. We must:

• Ensure inclusive education that reaches every girl, regardless of ability
• Create economic opportunities that value the talents and contributions of all women
• Develop healthcare systems that provide comprehensive, respectful care
• Strengthen legal protections against multiple forms of discrimination
• Amplify the voices and leadership of women with disabilities in decision-making processes

In The Gambia, we have seen promising steps forward. Our nation has made significant strides in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities, but we must go further. True inclusion means more than acknowledgment – it requires active, purposeful support that transforms opportunities from possibility to reality.

The UN's approach is clear: No woman or girl should be left behind. Disability is not inability. Every woman and girl has the right to dignity, opportunity, and the chance to pursue her dreams without limitation.

To the women and girls with disabilities of The Gambia – your strength inspires us. Your resilience challenges us. Your rights are fundamental and non-negotiable.

Let us stand united. Let us act with purpose. Let us make equality not just a goal, but our lived reality.