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UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The ‘Gambia Says NO MORE’ campaign, aimed at addressing domestic and sexual violence, was officially launched by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow of The Gambia. This significant initiative was announced recently during a gathering of government officials, high commissioners, and representatives in the capital city of Banjul. Additionally, the campaign will support long-term strategies focused on eradicating abuse.
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Among the attendees were Claudia Cole, the Gambian Minister for Basic and Secondary Education; Harriet King, the UK’s High Commissioner to The Gambia; and Ndeye Rose Sarr, the United Nations Population Fund’s Representative in The Gambia. The campaign, once operational, is anticipated to promote the safety and well-being of The Gambia’s 2.6 million inhabitants, aligning with the global ‘Commonwealth Says NO MORE’ campaign. The national chapter of the campaign is expected to provide culturally sensitive toolkits and templates. These resources aim to empower ministries, businesses, non-profits, communities, and bystanders to take concrete actions against domestic and sexual violence.
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Addressing the gathering, Secretary-General Scotland, whose leadership of the Commonwealth emphasizes ending violence against women and girls, highlighted the alarming statistic that one in three women worldwide experiences domestic or sexual violence at least once in their life. She stressed her commitment to addressing this pervasive issue globally and commended First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow for leading the ‘Gambia Says NO MORE’ chapter. She stated, “One in three women around the world experience domestic or sexual violence at least once in their life. Sadly, this is also a reality in every country. That is why, we remain steadfast in our commitment to addressing this issue.”
The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of bringing the hidden pandemic of violence out of the shadows, enabling victims to seek support, bystanders to intervene effectively, and fostering awareness among men and boys on how to be active allies in ending abuse. She added, “Through this chapter, we will bring this hidden pandemic of violence out of the shadows so that victims know they can seek support, bystanders know how to intervene and everyone, especially men and boys, knows how they can be active allies in putting an end to the abuse.”
Secretary-General Scotland also urged everyone to take responsibility for creating homes as safe spaces for women and girls, emphasizing that achieving peace in communities, countries, and the world hinges on this collective effort. She also lauded the efforts of the NO MORE Foundation, a partner with the Commonwealth Secretariat in their joint mission to eliminate domestic and sexual violence. In The Gambia, as in the global context, one in three women undergoes sexual or physical violence in their life. Unfortunately, this abuse often goes unreported due to factors such as impunity, silence, stigma, and fear.
First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow expressed her satisfaction in collaborating with the Commonwealth to empower women and girls through the NO MORE campaign. She highlighted her passion for this cause and acknowledged the steps taken, while emphasizing the ongoing work required. The First Lady looks forward to closely working with the Commonwealth to achieve their shared vision. She stated, “I am glad that we have the opportunity to collaborate with the Commonwealth in aligning our efforts to empower women and girls by initiating the NO MORE campaign to end the violence.” She added, “It is an endeavour that I have been so passionate about and I am pleased to have taken some steps in the right direction, yet the work continues. We look forward to working closely with the Commonwealth in achieving our common vision.”
To address this social issue, the Gambian government has implemented various measures in recent years to enhance the protection of women and girls, including the establishment of special domestic abuse courts and a national helpline for gender-based violence. Moving forward, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the NO MORE Foundation will collaborate with the Government of The Gambia to implement and advance the ‘Gambia Says NO MORE’ campaign.
