The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practice affecting the health of Women and children (GAMCOTRAP) in partnership with Save the Children, on Thursday, organized a day long sensitization on traditional practices, sexual and reproductive health at Paradise Suite Hotel.

The programme was centred on presentation and discussion of the role of community leaders in protecting the girl-child from female genital mutilation (FGM)

Declaring the workshop opened, Lamin Sanneh, governor, Western region said the government of The Gambia under the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh has  created the necessary legal framework and code of conduct on traditional practices especially on sexual and reproductive rights.

He commended GAMCOTRAP and its partners for organizing such a programme adding that is very important as it came at a time when women and children issues are being tabled at the National Assembly for action. Governor Sanneh urge participants to take the workshop seriously noting that it takes a man to build partnership but in the same vein it takes a woman to strengthen the partnership and by extension build a nation.

For her part, Dr Isatou Touray, executive director, GAMCOTRAP, thanked participants for honoring their invitation.

According to her, her organization has always been in the forefront in advocating for the welfare of women and the girl-child and tackling issues that affect them such as circumcision. She thanked the President for being in the forefront in empowering women in the country.

Dr Touray concluded by calling for more support in their quest to support women empowerment.