Source: The Daily Observer
The Agency for Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) in collaboration with Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Governance (SAGE) recently commemorated the International Rural Women's Day in Brikamaba, in Lower Fulladu west District, Central River Region (CRR) south.

The event was characterized by a march past, film shows and drama and was also attended by representatives from Senegal and Guinea Bissau. The theme of the celebration was "Food Security is Guaranteed if Women Have Access and Control Over Land". Topics discussed included challenges of women and land, land rights of women and what can be done together to end this menace.

Addressing participants on behalf of the regional governor, the deputy governor, Alhaji Malang Saibo Camara, spoke extensively on the importance of the forum, saying that rural women play a pivotal role in the attainment of household food security. He said President Jammeh has placed women's empowerment high in his development agenda, and thus urged the rural women to make best use of the opportunity. He commended ADWAC and partners for complementing government efforts in empowering rural women in the area of food security, gender mainstreaming and energy. Camara noted that if women have access and control over land, it will improve production and productivity which will contribute to the attainment of food self-sufficiency.

The director general of ADWAC, Mam Samba Joof, said that ADWAC was established in 1996 after the phasing out of SAVE the Children USA. He said their areas of intervention are Agriculture, Health, Education, Gender and Environment. He further underscored the important role rural women play in household food security, and called on their male counterparts to help the women to have access and control over land. He added that if they have access and control over land, food security would be guaranteed. Joof revealed that rural women face many constraints such as lack of land and violence against them. "We cannot advance if we leave the women behind who form the majority and are the main producers of our household food security in the country," the director general of ADWAC told the gathering. He applauded AIECD, a Spanish organization, for sponsoring the project and finally urged them to disseminate the information to those who did not have the chance to attend the celebration. Amalia Hernando, the SAGE regional coordinator, thanked the rural women for their efforts in producing the household food security in the country. She urged them to maintain the momentum, while calling on their male counterparts to help the women in the attainment of food self-sufficiency.

The ADWAC Gender officer, Matida Daffeh, said 15 October is a day set aside to commemorate the International Rural Women's Day. She highlighted on the significance of the day, saying it is meant to reflect on the efforts of the rural women in their household food security and other domestic work. She urged the men to assist the women as they are the main producers of the household food security. Among other speakers were the PAGET president Yamundow Drammeh, Women councilor Fatou Trawally, Women's representative of Senegal Mariama Drammeh, women's representative of Guinea Bissau Mariama Sowe. Ndey Adams chaired the programme.

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