Gambia: EU in crusade over women’s rights

The European Union (EU) said it is furthering its campaign to reduce all forms of violence against women and also enhance their economic status, rights and welfare in The Gambia.Madam Agnes Guillaud, EU charge d’ affaires in Banjul said on Wednesday that issues of women rights including female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices should be effectively addressed for the country to achieve its development objectives including the MDGs.

In view of this, the Delegation of the European Union to The Gambia on the same day launched a project in Foni Jarrol District dubbed ‘Women’s empowerment for change’.

The project financed by the EU to the tune of €200,000 aims to promote women’s rights by empowering vulnerable women and raising awareness about their rights as human beings.

“It (the project) is focused on economic empowerment and reducing violence against women, including female genital mutilation,� Madam Guillaud said.

She noted that issues like domestic violence should be effectively addressed “in order not to hamper the efforts to achieve our shared development objectives, including the MDGs�.

The Foni Jarrol project is one of three programmes funded by the EU and implemented by the NGOs amounting to more than D44 million, as part of its initiatives to improve women’s rights in The Gambia.

Source: http://en.starafrica.com/news/gambia-eu-in-crusade-over-womens-rights.html