GPF advocates Zero tolerance for violence against women

By Frederic Tendeng
Yahya Fadera, Deputy Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force, on Wednesday disclosed there will be zero tolerance for violence against women, particularly rape and other offenses of sexual abuse. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a training workshop for lawyers on violence against women and children, he stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of the police in countering occurrences of offenses. The training, organized by the Children Welfare Unit of The Gambian Police Force in collaboration with the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies and the Gambia Gender Action Team for women, was designed to educate law enforcement agents – police and intelligence officers as well as military personnel on gender and violence against women. Mr. Fadera said the government is engaged in the fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and children. “My department will continue to strengthen the capacity of our security forces, particularly the Gambia Police Force, to enable them achieve their noble mission of protecting lives and maintaining a violence-free society” he said. He said that “women and children will remain the focus of the Gambia government’’ being committed to the Gambian society and to a society that is respectful to children and women.