Organised by Gamcotrap through the support of the UNFPA joint programme to accelerate the abandonment of FGM, the training is meant to build the capacity of the participants for effective and progressive reporting on harmful traditional practices and domestic violence. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Isatou Touray, executive director of Gamcotrap, lauded the crucial role the media plays in the strive to eradicate FGM. According to her, the media is paramount in the sensitisation and education of the people on the negative implications attached to FGM and other harmful traditional practices. She described the training as a move in the right direction geared towards equipping the media practitioners with the necessary knowledge. She then thanked UNFPA for the collaboration in trying to save the lives of women and children, while describing their mission as part of national development.

For her part, Fatou Kinteh, a representative from UNFPA, said harmful traditional practices are forms of violence committed against women in certain communities and societies, adding that, in some societies they are committed for a very long time and are considered as part of accepted cultural practices. This, she said include FGM, early and forced marriage, and the various taboos that prevent women from controlling their own fertility. According to her, these practices can lead to death, disability, physical and psychological harm for millions of women annually. She adduced that harmful traditional practices lead to serious complication on the health of women and children.

According to Madam Kinteh, the practice of FGM also violates, among other international human rights laws, the rights of the child to the "Enjoyment of the highest at amiable standard of health", and she quoted from Article 24, Paragraph 1and 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to back her statement. On the Domestic violence, Madam Kinteh dilated on the violence that women who form 50% of the world continue to receive, noting if these do not stop, sustainable socio-economic development cannot be achieved.

According to her, the training is very important, as it will give the participants more insight into issues regarding harmful traditional practices and domestic violence, thereby influencing their reporting of harmful traditional practices and domestic violence in a positive way. She therefore lauded Gamcotrap for taking the initiative. Honourable Sidia Jatta, chairperson of the Board of Directors of Gamcotrap, tasked the participants to go out and educate the masses. He spoke at length on the important role the media can play in terms of keeping people aware.

Declaring the training officially open on behalf of the minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, Jerreh Sanyang, principal assistant secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure, said it is one of the roles of his ministry to contribute and support the formulation and implementation of government policies and programmes for the promotion of cohesion, democracy and good governance in the society."The government is aware of the critical role women play in society and the efforts of Non-Governmental Organisations in complimenting its efforts in advancing the empowerment of women and promoting issues relating to gender equality", he stated.

He said FGM affects the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls, adding that the training would henceforth make the participants to become real advocators against harmful traditional practices. "The training will in essence, ensure that media practitioners have a better understanding of gender specific issues and would enhance the quality of their broadcast programmes and newspapers", he posited, saying; "it will help the media in raising the awareness of our citizens on the health implications of some of our cultural practices for informed decision making."

Sanyang challenged the participants to work within the ethics of professional journalism to promote information sharing through educative programmes or newspaper articles on the new knowledge acquired. "Remember that FGM is a deep rooted tradition in The Gambia. Uprooting it will take time, and it demands a lot of patience and of course massive awareness and sensitisation campaign, while respecting and appreciating the views of those committed to and practicing it, until you come with them on board", he told the participants. He therefore applauded the noble initiative taken by Gamcotrap to raise the awareness on harmful traditional practices.