Isatou Njie-Saidy, Gambian Vice-President, on Friday outlined the progress made by the West African nation towards implementing the UN Security Council resolution on women's rights saying her government has done a lot towards ensuring the full participation and representation of women in peace process.
The Dakar-based United Nations office for West Africa organized a sub-regional conference on the “Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 revolving around the involvement of women in issues relating to development, peace and security” in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.
Njie-Saidy said the Gambian government had adopted and ratified several international protocols and conventions such as UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
“These and other legal instruments such as the 1997 Constitution provide safeguards for women to enjoy a full and dignified living standard,” the Gambian Vice-President said.
She also pointed out the participation of women in many areas such as the security sector.
'Gambian women security personnel have continued to participate in a number of peacekeeping missions. From 2001 to 2010, a total of 118 female officers have served in different UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world including Liberia, East Timor, Guinea Bissau and Darfur.'
However, many rights groups like Amnesty International and the Accra-based Media Foundation for West Africa have repeatedly criticized the Gambian government over its poor human rights and governance records.
