PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Gambia’s rights group launches women land policy
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Rights group, Activista-The Gambia, in collaboration with Action Aid -The Gambia on Tuesday launched the country's first women's land policy and Rural Women Assembly (WRA) chapter for The Gambia.
The forum is part of a long standing campaign for empowerment of women, to enable them to own land and to understand land policy and their rights regarding land ownership.
Addressing the participants, Bintou Gassama, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Women Affairs, said rural women have been contributing to nation building especially in ensuring food security.
“(But) they face challenges in trying to access, control and own natural and productive resources especially land in The Gambia," she said.
She added: “We have seen the important role women are playing in ensuring sustainable rural livelihood and food security because they are key drivers in food production, processing and preparation.”
Gassama said that the delivery of the rights of rural women is not the concern of government alone, adding that everyone has a role to play and the public must make sure the responsibility is fulfilled.
Amie Fabureh, Chairperson for the National Women's Council (NWC), described rural women as hard working people who are making contributions to the nation's socio economic growth. However, they are marginalised because they are less recognised in community development.
Omar Badjie, executive director Action Aid -The Gambia, said women are key players in food production and processing, adding that they also play a vital role in marketing agricultural products.
They constitute a quarter of the world's population and their livelihood is mostly dependent on agriculture and natural resources.
-0- PANA MSS/MA 17Oct2018
The forum is part of a long standing campaign for empowerment of women, to enable them to own land and to understand land policy and their rights regarding land ownership.
Addressing the participants, Bintou Gassama, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Women Affairs, said rural women have been contributing to nation building especially in ensuring food security.
“(But) they face challenges in trying to access, control and own natural and productive resources especially land in The Gambia," she said.
She added: “We have seen the important role women are playing in ensuring sustainable rural livelihood and food security because they are key drivers in food production, processing and preparation.”
Gassama said that the delivery of the rights of rural women is not the concern of government alone, adding that everyone has a role to play and the public must make sure the responsibility is fulfilled.
Amie Fabureh, Chairperson for the National Women's Council (NWC), described rural women as hard working people who are making contributions to the nation's socio economic growth. However, they are marginalised because they are less recognised in community development.
Omar Badjie, executive director Action Aid -The Gambia, said women are key players in food production and processing, adding that they also play a vital role in marketing agricultural products.
They constitute a quarter of the world's population and their livelihood is mostly dependent on agriculture and natural resources.
-0- PANA MSS/MA 17Oct2018
