The Gambia Teachers’ Union Women’s Wing (GTUWW) in collaboration with the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), on Monday, began a three-day sensitisation workshop on the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the rights of women in Africa, for members of the GTUWW, at the GTU Secretariat along MDI Road in Kanifing.

In her welcoming remarks, Antionette Corr-Jack, the secretary general of The Gambia Teachers’ Union, said the importance of the training cannot be over emphasised.  She noted that as teachers, they have to be highly sensitised about the protocol. She expressed delight in partnering with the African Centre and hope that the collaboration will grow from strength to strength.

Janet Mansal, the desk officer of The Gambia Teachers’ Union Women’s Wing, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the objective of the training is to raise awareness among female teachers on the protocol, in order to equip them with life skills. According to her, women are exposed to so many challenges, as a result they want to be aware and know what affect them.

In her opening remarks, Hannah Forster, the director of the ACDHRS, expressed delight for being associated with the GTU in such an important forum. She said they want to see women stand up and be counted as stakeholders in national development issues. “In schools we have realised that more male teachers are at the top and are given more advantages than the female teachers,” she remarked.

According to her, there is need for men and women to work together as partners in achieving the aims of the Women’s Protocol. She noted that the role of teachers in human rights cannot be over emphasised. This document, she said has to be looked at properly and analysed so that the teachers can teach the children at school and urged teachers to take their roles seriously. Forster added that human rights education is about using knowledge to be able to change attitudes. “The world without human rights is a world without peace,” she concluded.