The Republic of The Gambia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women at the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, from 12th to 13th July 2026.
The Conference, convened under the theme “The Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in OIC Countries: Challenges and the Way Forward,” brought together Honourable Ministers responsible for women and family affairs, as well as high-level delegations from across the Islamic world. The event was jointly organised by the OIC and the Ministry of Human Rights of the Government of Pakistan.
The Gambian delegation was led by Ambassador Habib Tamasa Baba Jarra, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, representing the Honourable Minister, Mrs. Fatou S. Kinteh. He was accompanied by Mrs. Isatou Jobe, counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his statement at the ministerial session, Ambassador Jarra underscored The Gambia’s continued commitment to advancing women’s rights and empowerment, in alignment with OIC frameworks and international development commitments. He highlighted key national initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable development through a whole-of-society approach.
Among the initiatives presented were the National Gender Policy (2025–2034) and the Green Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2028), which prioritize gender equality across all sectors. He further noted the impact of the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), which has provided over GMD 90 million in financial support to approximately 80,000 women, enhancing their economic participation and resilience.
The statement also highlighted social protection programmes such as the Family Strengthening Programme, which provides quarterly cash transfers to over 5,000 vulnerable individuals. Progress in girls’ education and the legal prohibition of female genital mutilation (FGM) were cited as significant milestones in advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls.
Additionally, Ambassador Jarra informed the Conference of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks, including the development of a Gender Management Information System (GMIS), the establishment of a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) shelter for survivors, and sustained allocations to the Victim Support Fund, Children’s Fund, and Disability Fund.
While acknowledging progress, the statement also identified persistent challenges, particularly in women’s political participation, which continue to be influenced by socio-cultural norms and resource constraints. The Government of The Gambia is addressing these through targeted capacity-building initiatives, regional training programmes, and ongoing legislative reforms.
The Gambia reiterated its readiness to collaborate with fellow OIC Member States and partners to advance a shared agenda for women’s empowerment. The delegation emphasized the importance of the Conference as a platform for strengthening cooperation, sharing best practices, and accelerating progress towards inclusive socio-economic development.
The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare remains committed to ensuring that women and girls in The Gambia are empowered to fully contribute to national development.
