Minister Drammeh: Zero tolerance for GBV must move beyond words

By Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia’s Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, has urged governments and communities across West and Central Africa to turn commitments against gender‑based violence (GBV) into concrete action.

Speaking at the First Ladies Forum in Banjul, she declared: “Gender‑based violence has no place in our societies, not in our communities, not in our homes, and certainly not in our schools.”

The high‑level gathering brought together ministers, First Ladies, and regional partners to adopt a unified roadmap against GBV. Drammeh stressed that tackling the issue requires a whole‑of‑government approach, cutting across education, health, justice, and security. “No single ministry can address it in isolation. Sustainable solutions demand coordinated action across all sectors of the state,” she said.

She highlighted education as a critical pillar, pointing to interventions under the SWEDD+ programme such as school support packages, safe spaces for adolescent girls and psychosocial services. Safeguarding measures in schools, including child protection policies and teacher codes of conduct, were also outlined. “Safe schools are foundational to girls’ empowerment and social equity,” she emphasized.

Drammeh commended the SWEDD+ initiative for fostering regional cooperation against child marriage and trafficking, and praised the role of First Ladies in elevating the fight against GBV. “Their moral authority and public trust enable them to elevate this fight beyond policy debates and into the hearts of communities,” she said.

She reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to the Joint Declaration in Banjul, stressing that responsibility extends to implementation, investment, and accountability. Concluding, she urged unity and decisive action: “Let us ensure that zero tolerance for gender‑based violence is not merely a slogan, but a lived reality, felt in our homes, practiced in our schools, and enforced by our institutions.”

The forum marks a significant step in strengthening regional cooperation and reaffirming commitments to end GBV across West and Central Africa.