Stakeholders Sound the Alarm as Rising Gender and Sexual Violence Demands an End to the Culture of Silence

By: Alieu Jallow

Gender and sexual based violence continue to rise across communities, prompting renewed calls from advocates and public institutions for a united response to confront the crisis. At a stakeholder engagement held in Brikama, organised by the Network Against Gender Based Violence in partnership with the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, speakers stressed that silence and social tolerance remain some of the biggest barriers to justice and protection.

Hamadi Sowe, Regional AIDS Coordinator for the West Coast Region, painted a troubling picture of the growing incidents of abuse. He referenced one of the latest and most heartbreaking cases, a fourteen year old girl from Pirang who died while giving birth, with the alleged perpetrator now on the run. According to him, this case reflects a wider pattern of unreported and unaddressed abuse happening within families and close circles.

“The problem of gender based violence is us as a people and we must be ready to tie our belts and break this culture of silence and mushlaha to be able to fight this very evil practice accorded in our societies. And most of the times it occurs in the backyards. It occurs within people that you never expected would have done it,” he stated.

He stressed that without confronting societal norms that protect perpetrators, justice will continue to be out of reach for victims and survivors. His call resonated strongly with stakeholders, many of whom agreed that silence fuels impunity.

The campaign in Brikama forms part of a comprehensive regional awareness initiative designed to strengthen community participation, increase public understanding of GBV, and enhance protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups. Led by Regional Ambassadors, the initiative reaches community members, students, market vendors and marginalised populations.

NGBV Project Coordinator Bubacarr Mbye echoed the need for stronger partnerships, noting that long term success depends on institutions integrating GBV prevention into their own plans and programs.

“We cannot do it all at the NGO level but then when these stakeholders now start putting us into their plans, into their projects, into their programs when they implementing, they will see us to be part of the stakeholders,” he outlined.

The regional caravan began in the North Bank Region with a mission to educate communities on GBV, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment. The team continues to emphasise that inclusive protection and education are essential in building safer communities.

As the caravan moves forward, partners remain committed to nurturing a culture grounded in safety, dignity and equality. They maintain that breaking the culture of silence is not only necessary but urgent, and that justice and protection must be guaranteed for every individual regardless of age, gender or circumstance.

 By: Alieu Jallow Gender and sexual based violence continue to rise across communities, prompting renewed calls from advocates and public institutions for a united response to confront the crisis. At a stakeholder engagement held in Brikama, organised by the Network Against Gender Based Violence in partnership with the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, speakers stressed that The Fatu Network