Main Areas of Focus for GAMCOTRAP

Introduction
This report is an overview of the activities of GAMCOTRAP for the year 2006. It outlines the activities and captures reactions from participants of various activities. GAMCOTRAP ‘s efforts to create awareness readers about FGM and VAW as well as other engagements to build alliances and networking within the Gambia and beyond. The first part of the year 2006 has been intense but exciting for GAMCOTRAP. Its training at community level to build capacity and social mobilization has set the pace for a positive future. We are committed to overcome the challenges of our determination, and renewal of commitment of staff and volunteers. It is also envisaged that the current energy on the advocacy to fight FGM and other HTPs has resulted to a process of consensus building among our targets. We hope that this will eventually result to stopping FGM in this century.

Activities

Zero Tolerance
GAMCOTRAP in collaboration with a group of women called the Ten Sisters of Brikama, a women’s group of over two hundred members joined other international women organisations under the auspices of Inter Africa Committee on Traditional Practices to celebrate yet another year of the Zero Tolerance Day to FGM. The celebration was held in Brikama Nema, Western Division. To mark the day, some of the activities included presentations on FGM in relation to the Islamic Religion, Health, and Human Rights perspectives, as well as presentation on positive and negative traditional practices that are of concern to the health of women and young girls. The activities of the celebration involved dancing and singing, eating and prayers. Women expressed astonishment to learn about some of the health implications affecting women in the Gambia and else where, as a result of FGM and some other harmful traditional practices. To their dismay, the presentation on FGM from a religious point was not in line with their perceptions on the stand of Islam on FGM. Instead it became clear to them for the first time that the Islamic religion has nothing to do with the practice. In a nutshell the practice from a religious stand is not obligatory. This gathering created the opportunity for women to ask questions from the religious leaders regarding FGM and other issues affecting their personal status. Thus some of the women took the information sharing opportunity created by this event to reflect on and voluntarily declared their support to the cause to fight against FGM and to the work with GAMCOTRAP and its allies.

Effects of the Celebrations
It has increased the awareness of grassroots women to the issues affecting them. It also clarifies the issues for them. More women groups in Brikama are requesting for training from GAMCOTRAP. It is an entry point to penetrate Brikama in the advocacy work. The enthusiasm of the 2006 celebration of Zero Tolerance to FGM has created another window of opportunity for women to reflect on the importance of information and how they as individuals can assert their right to protect their children. Speaking out in a public forum voluntarily to support the campaign is a plus to those working tirelessly to bring the facts to the people. The challenge is to continue to try and meet the demands for training from the various women’s groups to keep the momentum in Brikama.

TIC for Women leaders in Brikama
GAMCOTRAP in preparation for the commemoration of the 2006 International Women’s Day celebrations (IWD), decided to respond to the request made as part of the successful celebration of Zero Tolerance to FGM Day in the early part of February this year. A three day sensitization and training of thirty-five women leaders from twelve women’s groups in Brikama was conducted. These women representatives comprised of group presidents, secretary-generals, treasurers among other designations. The theme was “Leadership, Decision-Making, Politics and Promotion of Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights”. The training deliberated on the current situation of Gambian women in the context of rights promotion and decision-making and leadership with reference to CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol and the report on the Commission on the Status of Women. These modules discussed amongst other issues the low political representation of Gambian women in the National Assembly. In addition other training modules focus on sexual and reproductive health/life of women and children in the Gambia. The effects of some harmful traditional practices including FGM on the health of women and children were also looked at. At the end of the 3 days training, the participants came up with recommendations and committed themselves to the cause of women and children. The women were awarded with certificates.

International Women’s Day
The International Women’s day in Brikama Western Division on the theme, Leadership, Decision Making and Women’s Political Participation. The day started with a march pass led by the Scout band with over four hundred women from twelve kafoos in Brikama. The women displayed slogans related to leadership and empowerment as well as names of the different Kafos they are representing. Also, women leaders, students and the media were part of the celebration. The procession started from the football field to the Gambia College, where an open forum was held.

Issues highlighted on March 8 th include;
Women’s right to vote and be voted as well. That family responsibility must be shared equally, Women should recognize their rights within the context of their religion to claim for such rights. Economic empowerment of women requires-Access to opportunities to develop their skills and market opportunities to sell their produce. That once women are displaced from their crude stall to build proper ones, they should equally get the proper stalls in the market once they are re-built. That women should contest in all political decision making positions if possible

Alternative Employment Opportunity Monitoring and Follow-up
The Alternative Employment Opportunity came as a result of the requests made by circumcisers who are convinced that FGM is harmful to women’s reproductive and sexual health. However, all the circumcisers were both food and asset poor and they confessed that their role as circumcisers gave them the opportunity to earn some income to live a decent life. As a result of this, they were given some support while training and awareness was undertaken. In an effort to provide opportunities for women circumcisers, GAMCOTRAP through IAC, supported thirteen circumcisers in URD, CRD and LRD in 2002. The circumcisers were requested to look at what is available in their environment that can support them if they drop the knife. This was necessary for sustainability of all the AEO projects to be undertaken by the circumcisers. Therefore ex-circumcisers were supported to engage in their areas of interest and most of them were engaged in petty trading to earn money to support themselves with their basic needs. The ex-circumcisers were encouraged to open bank accounts to keep some of the profits they made to revolve the business. However, only one out of 13 circumcisers succeeded in keeping a bank account. The rest noted that the location of the banks were far from them and could not facilitate the process without support from the organization. The follow up monitoring has shown that almost all the circumcisers who were given the alternative employment opportunities had stopped the cutting. The challenge they are facing is the cross border and mobile circumcisers within the country and from Senegal and Mali who come around to look for children to circumcise. However, GAMCOTRAP is working closely with the communities to prevent this from happening, through community initiatives. From 2002 to 2005 three of the thirteen ex-circumcisers passed away, and since their demise, it was established that no other circumcisers were identified in their villages. Overall, the team felt that it was good to follow up and monitor what happens after training people on FGM and how far they have maintained the commitment to stop the harmful traditional practices - HTPs. It was impressed with the reaffirmation from the trainees to stop the practice and to continue to sensitize others. They also called on GAMCOTRAP to visit more frequently and that it provides moral support for them in the community. The active involvement of community elders in some of the villages also boosts the confidence amongst the women. Male involvement in the campaign has proven very useful in the advocacy work.

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AEO Phase 2
The AEO phase two is to follow-up the ex-circumcisers and to assess their needs to see what work well for them and what did not work well. This assessment has resulted to a consultation meeting with the team of ex-circumcisers where they shared their stories regarding the project.

They were able to give each other advice on how to run their petty trading project and the need to improve further on them. Therefore a training was requested to enable them learn some more entrepreneurial skills. The last training they had was held in 2002.

Youth Forums
As part of our commitment to youth empowerment, GAMCOTRAP has a youth advocacy group. Its aim is to educate and empower the youths to realize their full potentials within the community in which they live. Through peer education strategies, the youth advocacy reaches to other youths with health messages across our intervention areas.

The youth project component, has undertaken series of training programs targeting youth on Reproductive Health issues related to culture and tradition, leadership skills among others. During the months of January to June 2006, the project organized several youth programs. Hence the project has organized a series of activities such as a drama festival and all girls day forum. To an extend these activities are considered as milestone to GAMCOTRAP’s efforts to create awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues at large. In addition, the youth project with partners actively took part in some pre-AU Summit meetings such as the Civil Society Organizations Forum, an orientation forum on the African Youth Charter organized by the National Youth Council among others.

Other Project Activities
Training for Mothers of ABC Nursery and Open Forum with Mothers of Ebo Town – Greater Banjul Area
In partnership with ABC, A Norwegian organization supporting Primary Education in the Kanifing Municipality, GAMCOTRAP conducted a three day training of 400 mothers and the teachers on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and children. In line with the theme for International Women’s Day 2006, Women in Political leadership and decision making, the training raised critical issues that affect women’s empowerment and their rights in the public sphere. The training of the mothers has been an important entry point to an urban setting of people with rural backgrounds who strongly uphold to the cultural identity. It provided opportunity for reflection and engaged them to realize the dynamic nature of culture and that it is individual decisions that impact on society at large. The opportunity to realize the important role mothers have to play towards the elimination of FGM and other issues affecting their integrity as women has been an empowering process. During the Open Forum advocacy centered on eradication of harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, early marriage, rights of women and children and leadership in protecting the rights of children, the girl child in particular, amongst others. While the open forum has created awareness amongst the parents, it also set the context that for some parents FGM is about identity and sense of belonging; and the need for more interaction to allay the fear of loosing ones identity. The Second phase of the sensitization was held AS PART OF 16 DAYS OF ACTIVSM from the 24 TH – 26 TH NOVEMBER 2006 .

This workshop is a continuation of the past three activities undertaken by the 40 mothers of ABC nursery and Primary School. The participants called for more mothers to attend a similar workshop to widen the base of advocacy on the rights of women and children.

Training with TBA, Circumcisers and Herbalists held at Bansang, Central River Division
GAMCOTRAP has engaged in a social mobilisation process to empower the communities on choices regarding sexual and reproductive health needs. Two hundred and fifty people including Traditional Birth Attendants and their assistants, Female Circumcisers and their Assistants, Herbalists/Traditional Healers and their Assistants and Health Care Providers were engaged in upgrading their skills and knowledge on the effects of FGM and other harmful traditional practices. The gender dimension of HIV/AIDS was brought to the forefront of the discussions. There was consensus among them that HIV/AIDS is real and the films and pictures with some of the testimonies on HIV/AIDS positive people drove the lessons. They also reflected on the religious dimensions and justifications of FGM and came to conclusion that it is not a religious obligation for women. The conclusions arrived at included that all the circumcisers and assistants who were present should stop female genital mutilation. They agreed among themselves that those who did not have the opportunity to attend the programme should be the next target group to be trained by GAMCOTRAP. They observed that this training will lead to a consensus among them that will eventually lead to a declaration to stop FGM in the division

Training with Community Based facilitators at Pakalinding, Lower River Division
As a follow up to the recommendations of the 2005 activities, GAMCOTRAP through the support of Save the Children Sweden – regional office in Dakar, conducted a three day training programme to bring the community based facilitators together to share information and to equip themselves with adequate skills that they will use in their advocacy, guided by the mode of operation and principles of the organization. The training programme is to uplift the standard of the Community Based Facilitators to understand issues related to their work and to strategize on how to raise the consciousness of the people. This includes understanding the methodology of grass roots activism and the nature of the work and how to go about the sensitization processes and finally came up with an action plan to that effect. There has been a degree of positive change among the people as a result of the previous training programmes, this could be realized from the efforts of a chief who had an open forum in his community and this needs to be reinforced. This process will require urgent financial and technical support to ensure that the process is captured in a more systematic manner. The Second Batch of Training was held in Soma Lower River Region from the 21ST TO 24TH DECEMBER 2006

Training of TBA, Circumcisers and Herbalists, Upper River Division
A three day training and awareness raising programme for Traditional Birth Attendants, Circumcisers, Traditional Healers and Health Workers on Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights was held in Suduwol in the Kantora District in Upper River Division.Participants were came up with strategies in the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children, the girl child in particular; including strategies to stop the practice of female genital mutilation within their communities.

Youth Bantaba on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Traditional Practices
Bansang and Kerewan Date: 19 th July and 28 th 2006
Under the UNFPA country Programme in partnership with National population secretariat, the Advocacy and the adolescent youth reproductive health components sub-contracted GAMCOTRAP to carry out training workshops and youth BANTABAS in two divisions. These activities were held in Bansang in the Central River Region and Kerewan in the North Bank Region respectively. Fifty young people both male female attended the BANTABA and the workshops. The aim of the Bantaba was to expose adolescents and youths to information on RH, sexual rights and other health related information. The Bantaba is a participatory learning method, which gives youth/participants the opportunity to share health information, share knowledge, skills including negotiating and coping skills that could help to protect them as youth/vulnerable people from harm including attempted sexual abuses, rape and from peer pressure. The Bantaba allows the participants to interact and meet with role models. Some of the activities of the Bantaba include,- health material exhibition, poems, skit performance, singing and dancing.

Recommendations
As part of the recommendations of the Bantaba, Participants highlighted various issues regarding ways in which some of the problems they are confronted with could be addressed. The emerging issues led to the following recommendations. Establishment of skill centres especially in Bansang where the youths claim that there is no single skill centre existing for young people both boys and girls. Similarly, the same apply for North Bank specifically Kerewan. Until recently when RAID- Gambia established a minor skill centre meant for the male youths. On the area of education and marriage, participants called for more sensitization with their parents on the issue of girls education.

For the purpose of effective utilization of the existing facilities especially that of Bansang, The youths recommended for the establishment of a counseling unit in such facilities and to make the environment more youth friendly.

General recommendation of the workshop

·  The participants requested that CEDAW, The Maputo Protocol, and other Human rights instruments be made available to them as reference materials for their advocacy in the communities.

·  The women also expressed the need for adult literacy classes in their community which will help them in their empowerment process. Help and support women as independent candidates if they are not selected at primaries of other parties to contest for election; Support women and women leaders on adequate adult literacy on political issues to be able to speak out on behalf of women;

Sensitization with Traditional Birth Attendants, Circumcisers and Parents in Wulli East, Upper River Region

12th – 15th December 2006
This discussion of the workshop brought out various issues i.e. On Female Genital Mutilation, they acknowledge changes in the practice since in some parts of Wulli, the practice is been halted gradually. Furthermore, they claim to use one knife previously for mutilating girls but now they have reformed that by using different blades for different girls. The discussions touched on girls education and its cultural rites dimensions in relation to early marriage. It was also discussed that most young girls are dropped out of school and forced into marriage. For many it becomes a life long scar especially if they are divorced after some time thus leaving them with the burden to take care of their kids at a very tender age, or at a time that they should be in school. This predicament leaves a lot of young married girls into a mess of contemplating about their future which have already been dictated by tradition.

Outcomes

Women of reproductive age
·  We have also seen the effects and did not wish that such happen to our daughters and grand daughters

The process has empowered us a lot and we are willing to protect our children from being circumcised

Adult women
The practice is affecting us and we women are the ones traumatized therefore we need more awareness for the whole of Wulli in order to make a collective stop to it.

Youths

Conduct radio programmes on FGM for community sensitization

Adult men
The Problem is cross cutting but we know it has a bigger problem for women not only FGM but other TPs. Religion has not made it divine. Historically the prophet did not force any one. Therefore with all the consequences we think and belief should stop but the issue now remain with the women.

PRE - AU SUMMIT 2006 – 19 th - 27 th June 2006
Apart from the normal partnership and collaboration with the government and the UN System, GAMCOTRAP has been working closely with Civil Society Organizations providing technical support and capacity building. As part of its contribution to the Pre-AU African Summit of Heads of States, GAMCOTRAP facilitated a panel for TANGO on the theme:

“African Union Protocol/Conventions on the Rights of Women: Status and Evolution of the Domestication and Implementation ” paper presentation in preparation for 7 th African Union Summit at the Civil Society workshop on The Challenges Of The 21 st Century: Economic Integration, Human Rights And Governance held at the Friendship Hotel, Bakau, The Gambia, 20th June 2006 by: Isatou Touray (DPHIL), Secretary General, GAMCOTRAP. The African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) hosted Solidarity for Africa Women’s Rights - SOAWR for the workshop on the African Protocol on Women’s Rights and GAMCOTRAP presented on two themes namely:

1. “The Protocol on Women – Eradicating Harmful Traditional Practices: A strategy to achieve one of the Millennium Development Goal” as part of the theme African Union Protocol On Women’s Rights In Africa: Strategies For Domestication, 24 th June 2006 at Kairaba Hotel by Dr. Isatou Touray, DPHIL), Secretary General, GAMCOTRAP.

2. “Relevance of the Protocol for Rural Women” as part of the theme The Relevance of the Protocol to Africa and The Gambia in Particular and Strategies for Domestication and Implementation by Amie Bojang Sissoho, Programme Coordinator, GAMCOTRAP on 25 th June 2006 at Kairaba Hotel.

Also GAMCOTRAP Youth Advocacy Group (GAMYAG) participated in several panels of Pre-AU Summit on Civil Society, Women’s Rights and Youth forums in Banjul organized by:

Civil Society Organizations forum hosted by The Association of NGO - TANGO

ACDHRS in partnership of SOAWR

Femmes Africaine Solidarité– FAS

Forum on the African Youth Charter organized by the National Youth Council

GAMCOTRAP organized the participation of twenty-five rural women from five administrative areas to the Pre- AU Summit of SOAWR hosted by the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) on the African Women’s protocol. This process was funded through Equality Now by The Newfield Foundation/TIDES.

Networking and Alliance building at national and international levels

GAMCOTRAP former Youth Project Coordinator, Baturu Camara participated at a Women NGO Leaders Meeting held in Bamako February 2006, organized by Amnesty International under its West Africa Human Rights Education Project for 2006 to 2007 project cycle. The meeting is a follow-up of the regional conference on Torture held in Dakar in December 2005. In April, Action Aid International the Gambia facilitated the participation of GAMCOTRAP’s Programme Coordinator, Amie Bojang-Sissoho to a Women’s Rights meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa to network around Gender and HIV/AIDS. Prior to the meeting GAMCOTRAP has submitted a proposal on the Gender Dimension of HIV/AIDS to the AWDF based in Ghana. The Secretary General of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray in partnership with Equality Now completed a tour of the United States of America to fund raise on behalf of African women’s Rights organizations based in Africa, from the 10 th -14 th June 2006.Staff of GAMCOTRAP has also participated in different national forums related to women’s rights and youth in partnership with other organizations and the government.
 
 

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