International Tuesdays

As you all know, the issue of violence against women is not only a UK problem, but a global one. So, every Tuesday on the WRC London blog will be International Tuesday - a day where we post an article related to violence against women in another country (with the aim of having the author be from that particular country), to show our solidarity with the women and girls of the world.

We're starting today, with an article from the Gambia on female genital mutilation. If the previous link doesn't work, try this one.

Gambian women rights group to honour ex-circumcisers 

Gambia women rights group, The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) will Saturday honour ex-circumcisers and their communities at the Basse Stadium in the Upper River Region. According to a press release obtained by PANA here, GAMCOTRAP will be marking the 2nd Dropping of the Knife events through a public declaration by 60 circumcisers and 351 communities in Upper and Central River Regions of the Gambia. The ceremony is part of GAMCOTRAP's land-mark achievements over the years. According to the release, GAMCOTRAP has been engaged in consistent grassroots activism and social mobilisation through training and sensitisation activities to raise consciousness of men and women on the effects of female genital mutilation (FGM) on the reproductive health rights of women and girl-children. 

The release pointed out that the organisation has worked closely with the communities through an empowerment process, to be able to bring about change, adding that as a result of the series of activities, the organisation has been able to register immense success, leading to the first pubic declaration made by 18 circumcisers and 63 communities to protect their children from FGM in 2007. 
'Sustained advocacy engaging the duty bearers at the community level has resulted to yet another success story and the pubic declaration has very strong support and commitment from their traditional rulers and Council of Elders as well as the local government structures across the regions.