In commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism, the Gambia Bar Association (GBA) partnered with the Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE) and the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) to provide legal aid clinic specifically for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The clinic served as a vital platform for participants to engage with key stakeholders in the legal sector, providing them with the opportunity to discuss their rights, share experiences of discrimination, and advocate for the urgent need for equal protection and treatment under the law.
This initiative emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the legal rights of women and PWDs, promoting accountability in addressing systemic discrimination, and fostering a society that prioritizes inclusion and equity.
While addressing the participants, the Executive Secretary of the GBA, Ms. Penda Dibba, stated:
“These conversations are very important. However, for us, this is not enough. We want to ensure that, at the end of this program, the issues raised are not just documented but acted upon, with concrete steps taken to address them.”
Key concerns raised during the clinic include:
- Ensuring equal access to education and employment opportunities.
- Improving healthcare services for PWDs.
- Strengthening the implementation and enforcement of laws safeguarding the rights of PWDs.
- Encouraging parents to adopt more inclusive and supportive attitudes toward their children with disabilities.
- Addressing discrimination faced by PWDs in public spaces.
- Bridging the information gap for PWDs on national issues to ensure their inclusion and participation.
The mobile legal clinic also provided one-on-one legal consultations, enabling participants to seek advice on specific challenges they face, including inheritance rights, workplace discrimination, and access to social services.
Participants expressed gratitude for the initiative, calling for more sustained efforts to engage communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders to eliminate barriers faced by PWDs.
The GBA remains steadfast in its commitment to working with partners like WAVE and GFD to ensure access to justice and advocate for policies and practices that protect and empower the most vulnerable groups in society.
