The activity was mainly conducted in the administrative capitals of various regions of the country and draw participants from various districts and wards. In the seven (7) town hall meetings, a total of two hundred and ten direct beneficiaries were reached. This included: youth wings of political parties, regional youth leaders, artists, traditional communicators, and local authorities.

It is irrefutable that, there is proliferation of hate speech due to polarization of political parties, and this has a negative effect to the country’s peace and security. During the townhall meetings, resource persons expound on the dangers of hate speech, identify what constitute a hate speech, difference between hate speech, dangerous speech, and freedom of expression; mechanisms to counter hate speech through different means of communication; and procedures to imbibe in order to combat the menace.
At the launched of the town hall meetings in the Kanifing Municipality the Executive Director of Beakanyang called on the young people to be change makers and ambassadors of peace. He added that: “hate speech undermines our democratic gains and therefore, as politicians, youth activist, artist etc. We must use our platforms to sensitize people to refrain from the use of hate speech but equally to accept diversity.”

Fanta Sonko, a youth leader and activist in Kanifing, emphasized the need for politicians to have a paradigm shift from politics of sentiment and violence to development-oriented politics. She concluded saying that ‘It is right time we take a break and speak truth to politicians and supporters to understand that hate speech will not take us anywhere; it only undermines the peace and security of the country.”
Furthermore, super star and icon, Nyancho was in attendance at the West Coast Region town hall meeting. In his contribution, he said, “everyone has a role to play in order to counter hate speech. As a musician with a larger followership, you can be assured that I will add my voice to advocate against hate speech and social bullying through my music. Also, to enlighten people about the dangers of hate speech.”
From the town hall meetings, the following recommendations were advanced to help combat hate speech in The Gambia. They are: (i) strenthening the capacity of media personnel on medai eithics and professionalism. (ii) develop legal framework on the basis non-descrimination and supression of right to freedom of speech. (iii) more house to house sensitization and dialogue be conducted in houses, TVs, Radios and schools.
As part of the success stories of these twonhall meetings, series of Whatsapp fora are created in all the regions across the country to futher desiminate our anti-hate speech messages and help promote positive messaging in the communities. Also, our particpnats who appeared on radios, especially, in Upper River Region have use their time to raise awareness about the dangers hate speech poise to our nauscent democracy.

The Minister of Youths and Sports was ably represented by the Program Officer for Peace, Security and Justice as the National Youth Council, Mr. Omar Bah. In his statement, he tasked the participants to give their best to the forum “as this forms part of the most important engagements that young people of this country are doing to ensure that we continue to enjoy peace and security. Furthermore, he tasked the participants to make a commitment: “When there will be violence, I will not be a party to it and my immediate circle.” The NGO Affairs Director was also represented by Mr Famara Jarju, who delivered a solidarity statement.

After the official opening ceremony, the resource persons made experts presentations on the following: Hate Speech and its constituents, freedom of expression, good governance, genesis of democracy, women political participation, peaceful elections and civic education (roles and responsibilities of citizens). These were to set a parameter and basis for the consensus building and way forward in combating hate speech in The Gambia.

Mr Ensa Njie, a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia and Mr Saikou
Jammeh, former secretary General, Gambia Press Union, presented on an overview of the
political context in The Gambia (in the context of election) and research findings on hate speech in The Gambia, respectively. Also, Mr Amat Jeng, and Tabu Njie presented on democracy, civil liberties and freedoms and women political participation and peace building, respectively.

The newly created female wing of Beakanyang was inaugurated on 18 December this year at a ceremony held at the organisation’s office in Barrow Kunda, Upper River Region.

Speaking on the occasion, Alkally Kebbeh, the Sare Ngai Ward Councillor, said women empowerment remains a priority for the Gambia government.

He cited the vice president, cabinet ministers and national assembly members as women, calling on the women and girls in the area to remain committed to national development.

For his part, Nfamara Jawneh, the secretary general and programme officer of Beakanyang, congratulated the women and girls of the organisation for the new development, which forms part of the organisation’s women empowerment drives.

Over the years, numerous successes have been registered by the organisation and these were largely attributed to the commitment and hard work of its female members, Mr Jawneh said: “Your hard work and unity has earned us recognition and many achievements.” 

Jawneh told the women of Beakanyang that solving their plights and wellbeing would remain a key priority for the organisation.

He urged the female wing to work closely with other structures of the organisation for them to achieve their goals.

“The contribution of women and girls in the socio-economic development of The Gambia is well noticed and therefore putting them of the forefront of our development agenda is highly welcome,” Jawneh remarked.

He said as from 2009 women will continue to occupy key positions in Beakanyang both in the executive  and in the advisory boards.

The President of the Beakanyang Female Wing, Meta Jaineh, thanked the leadership of the oragnisation for the initiative.

She assured the members of her readiness to work with relevant structures of the group to bring rapid development to women and girls in the country.

She also thanked the members for the trust and confidence they have in her to lead the Female Wing for the next two years, while calling for the support of all members.

Other speakers on the occasion included the 2nd Vice President, Foday M.K. Touray and Kawunding Danjo, youth coordinator.

Present at the event was Mariama Barrow 1st Vice President of Beakanyang.

Meanwhile, Fofana Kebbeh, secretary of the female wing; Dusu Jolley, the vice president, and Dusu Sisawo, treasure all attended the inauguration.

The following members were also appointed as field coordinators: Tida Kebbeh, Sira Jallow, Duta Jolley, Jonkunda Camara and Sanneh Camara.

It activity has also help participants to know the link between human rights and the national budget.

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director of Beakanyang said, that the national budget is the second most important national document for any country after the constitution.

“However, during the past authoritarian rule, there existed little or no public discourse around the budget and once tabled at the National Assembly, it gets approved by NAMs who were dubbed ‘rubberstamped’. From 2017 to date, since the new government took office, support from IRI to actors in the Executive, National Assembly, Civil society and media in building capacity and encouraging stakeholder dialogues has seen significant increase in understanding as well as participation of these actors in the budget process, especially the NAMs who now have capacity to thoroughly review and change the executive budget as they deem necessary,” he added.

The objective of the activity, he added, was to allow for open dialogue amongst the relevant stakeholders on the national budget, with the aim of establishing increased dialogue on the budget among Gambian stakeholders around improvements achieved by the actors, gaps and challenges and recommendations for improvement, including how to encourage citizens participation in the budget process.

He added that civil society organisations including Beakanyang also continues to play its part in sensitizing and carrying out advocacy around the budget but due to reason relating to financial resources and access to remote areas of rural Gambia as well as the limited constituency outreaches by NAMs, Gambians in the remote areas have very limited opportunities to discuss the budget with these different actors, and how the budget affects their lives.

“Gambians since independent has suffer so many violations of their basic rights such as proper health care system, proper electricity supply, quality and safe drinking water and road connections especially for the rural communities. In addressing those challenges, the public especially, the young people need to have the required capacity to know the important of the budget and having a basic understand of the budget process especially at this crucial stage when the National Assemble recently passed the national budget for 2021,” he added.

He noted that the Open Day formed parts of their efforts to increase the understanding and interest of the people in URR on the national budget.

For his part, Mr Foday Danjo, Chairman of Basse Area Council thanked Beakanyang and IRI for orgsnaing such an important activity in the region.

He urged participants to take the forum seriously noting that such forums could help the citizens to know why it is important for citizens to build interest and participate actively in the budget processes, including how they can participate in the process.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Seedia Jatta, the NAM for Wuli West shared the role of NA in the budget process and key highlights from the 2021 budget including oversight role of the NAMs in reaching the approved budget.

Deputising the Governor of URR, Mr. Lamin Ceesay called on the residents of URR to build more interest in the national budget formulation and execution.

According to him such forums will avail participants the opportunity shares their priority needs and aspirations with National Assembly members.

The open floor discussion also accorded citizens of URR LGA the opportunity to share how they put input in the budget process for the development of their LGA.

The training began with introduction of Omo and Soap by the trainers and their importance to women in particular.
Trainers also took the participants to the steps in Omo and Soap making as well as their raw materials. Lead trainer Ismaila Sambou said soap that would be produce by the participants is very good especially for taking shower.
“This soap is also scared in the market due to its quality even though its produce locally in the Greater Banjul Area,” he said.
At the start of the training, Maneh Kijera, president of Beakanyang Sutukonding thanked the British Embassy for supporting the group members acquire new skills. The new skills she added, will boost the livelihoods of the participants and their respective families.
For his part, Nfamara Jawneh, executive director of Beakanyang affirmed that the training formed part of a month long training package being supported by the British embassy.
The project, he explained, aims to provide group members with soap, Omo, tie and dye and batiks making skills as well as on other entrepreneurship development skills.

Jawneh maintained that the goal of the project is to reduce poverty among women of Sutukonding village particularly members of the group. He thus reaffirmed his office’s resolve to support women at the grassroots level in enhancing their livelihoods.
He used the forum to call on other development partners to emulate the British embassy’s move in improving the economic status of rural women.

Nfamara Jawneh, executive director of Beakanyang, said the training formed part of the series of activities being carried out by Sutukonding Beakanyang and his office in the village to help build the capacity of its grassroots members and provide them with new livelihoods improvement skills.
“This is an economic empowerment initiative that seeks to boost the morale of vulnerable women and their mediate families,” he said.

Further commenting,  Jawneh said: “It’s our hope that this training would help market the products you will be dealing with after completing your training sessions on Omo and soap making.”

He commended the UK Embassy in Banjul for their support and partnership which he said would undoubtedly significantly change livelihoods in rural Gambia.
Musa Keita, vice president of Sutukonding Beakanyang, said women in rural areas including those in Sutukonding  are very much vulnerable to poverty thus the need to empowerment them to become economically independent.
He stressed that the training was vital to the enhancement of the livelihood of the beneficiaries and their families.

The project aimed to provide group members with basic skills in making detergents such as soap, Omo and tye and dye making skills as well as business management skills in the village of Sutukonding.

Due to the proximity from the city (about 400kilo meters from Banjul) women in this community like many other women in rural Gambia are faced with many challenges especially access to financial and other valuable resources to remove themselves from the cycle of poverty.

According to Beakanyang Director,  the main aim of the project was to reduce poverty among women in Sutukonding village between the ages of 30 and 45 years old. It further seeks to improve the economic status of the beneficiary women and their families.

 Mr Nfamara Jawneh disclosed in Sutukonding on March 8th 2015 while presiding over its launching,

the main activities of the project will includes:

• Formal Project Launching in the village & marking International Women’s Day
• Training of 90 women on basic business management and records keeping skills.
• Training of 50 women on Omo and Soap Making.
• Training of  40 women on Tye and Dye and Batik making .

Mrs Kijera also thanked Beakanyang Kafo parent body of Sutukonding Beakanyang for providing the required technical support towards the realization of the project for the group.

According to her, the official kick start of the project was a dream come true for them and promised to take full ownership of it.
In his formal launching statement on behalf of the URR Governor to kick start the project, Head Chief of Wuli West, Alhagie Kemo Jatta, congratulated the members of Sutukonding Beakanyang for the development. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the empowerment of women while applauding them for their hard work and meaningful contribution to socio-economic development of the country.

Chief Jatta appealed for more such important projects for women in other communities in his district.
He hailed the British Embassy for the support and assured the women of his continue support to women empowerment.