Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Hon. Fatou Kinteh, on Wednesday 9 July officiated the opening ceremony of a five-day Training of Trainers Workshop on Monitoring and Reporting on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, utilizing the Continental Results Framework.
The training is jointly organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), with financial support from the Swedish Government.
“This training demonstrates KAIPTC’s commitment to promoting peace and the welfare of women across the African continent,” Minister Kinteh stated.
She emphasised that gender equality and women’s empowerment are recognised by the Gambia government as essential pillars for achieving sustainable national development, peace, and prosperity.
Also speaking at the event, new Foreign Affairs Minister Sering Modou Njie, then Minister of Defence, stressed that the workshop formed part of a larger national effort to align The Gambia’s peace and security architecture with the principles of inclusivity, human rights, and sustainable development.
“It is also an affirmation of our readiness to work collaboratively with the African Union, the United Nations, and other partners in building resilient societies anchored in gender justice and peace,” he said.
Air Commodore David Akrong, Acting Commandant of KAIPTC, underscored the vital role played by the focal persons of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in promoting the WPS agenda across Africa.
“As we gather here in Banjul, we recognize the critical role that WPS Focal Persons play in advancing the agenda across the continent,” he remarked, saying: “Women, Peace and Security is a topic of immense significance for the future of Africa, the development of our nations, and the strengthening of our collective security framework.”
