By Bubacarr Gaye
The Peace Building Unit of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), conducted a follow-up two-day training session on 1st and 2nd October 2024, for staff of the Ministry.
The theme of the training was, “Strengthening the national infrastructure for peace to promote social cohesion in The Gambia”, with focus on gender and cultural dimensions. It delved into the role of women and youths in peace building.
In his opening remarks, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Mr. Assan Tangara, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, thanked UNDP for the support to the ministry’s security and peace building endeavours.
He noted the importance of the training, and the relevance of the gender aspect, given the revelations of the TRRC on Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV).
In his closing remarks, PS Tangara said the Ministry’s mentoring and coaching of its staff pivots on the context of its commitment to its reform agenda.
Yirah Mansaray, Project Manager of the Infrastructure for Peace Project (I4P), Under the UNDP, also underscored the significance of the training, and said is in line with one of the recommendations of the TRRC affirmed in the updated 2024 Conflict and Development Analysis (CDA) report.
“A key objective of his project is to contribute towards the implementation of the recommendation contained in the TRRC report, which specifically aims to establish a decentralised Peace and Reconciliation Commission (PRC) with a clear mandate to promote peace, reconciliation, and healing and to foster social cohesion,” Mr Mansaray further explained.
Ms Yukie Fujioka, Ms Joanne Bruce, Ms Fatou Sonko and Mr Thomas Kimaru served as the resource persons. The delivered the topics: Women, peace and security; Youth peace and security, Introduction to gender and women in political participation and leadership in The Gambia.
