The forum is part of the current consultative process towards the introduction of the said bills to the country's legislature for enactment.
Speaking at the occasion, the solicitor general and legal secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Basiru VP Mahoney, underscored the importance of the forum, and explained that the two bills are very clear on what acts would constitute an offence. Though the bills do not discriminate men and women, Mahoney maintained that emphasis is put on women because in his words, "they are the most frequent victims of domestic or sexual violence."
Justice Mahoney hastened to comment on the enactment of the Women's Act, crediting President Jammeh for the support in this regard; something he said manifests his commitment to the strengthening of the rights of women in the country.
He noted that the Women's Act has provided a specific provision of the law that prohibits violence against women. He quoted section six of the Act, which he indicated provides that "every woman shall be protected from any forms of physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm; from suffering all violence whether occurring in public or in private life."
The solicitor general stressed that violence committed in private homes should 'no longer' be regarded as a private or personal matter to be resolved at home. He stressed that such acts require the attention of the community and the society at large in order to avert its negative consequences and impact on the wider society.
The justice disclosed that of the criminal cases that are currently being prosecuted in The Gambia by the Attorney General's Chambers, a large proportion of them are rape.
"There are also serious offences being committed against women that have no place in our society and ought not to be tolerated," he added.
"The two bills are supposed to further design sexual offences or to consolidate all sexual offences in one code. If they are enacted, they will better protect the rights of women and help to put a stop to outrageous acts committed against women and girls in our society," he went on.
Mahoney underscored that participants have a crucial role to play in educating and influencing the opinion and perception of the wider population on these important issues, stating that more often than not, people turn a blind eye to sexual violence against women and children.
"It is our moral duty and obligation to prevent all forms of violence particularly against women," he urged, while commending FLAG for organising the seminar.
The president of FLAG, Neneh MC Cham, who gave a brief background of FLAG, said their goal is to promote and protect the rights of women and children. One of their objectives, she noted is to lobby for gender equality in The Gambia through legislative reform, public education and advocacy; whilst the vision is to procure changes to the laws of The Gambia for the protection and well-being of women and children.
In line with its mandate to enhance and promote the welfare of women and children, Cham asserted that FLAG is complementing the efforts of the government through its various activities. She noted that they saw it critical to hold the seminar in order to further enlighten the religious leaders on the two bills so as to enable them have a better understanding and appreciation of the pertinent issues of gender based violence in the bills.
She informed the gathering that FLAG is a member of the steering committee that has been working on the establishment of a stop centre for victims of gender-based violence. This committee, she further indicated, comprises of the heads of all the key stakeholder institutions/ departments such as the Ministry of Health, Department of Social Welfare, FLAG, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), the Women's Bureau, the police and others.
The FLAG boss said once the centre is put in place, their staff will be at hand at the centre to receive, offer assistance and treatment as well as legal advice and representation to victims of gender-based violence.
Commenting on the draft Sexual Offences Bill, Lawyer Neneh MC Cham said once if is passed into law it will supersede the provisions of all other related laws, except the nation's supreme scripture, on any matter pertaining to the trial of rape and offences against morality, or of an indecent nature.
The women's right programme manager at the Action Aid International The Gambia, Fanta Jatta-Sowe, said the seminar would better enhance the understanding of participants on what religion has to say on certain issues in the bills.
She posited that no religion accepts violence against women, noting that women are not to be violated in any form but are to be protected. She believes that the participation of the religious leaders in the seminar will help a great deal in enforcing the enactment of the bill in the National Assembly.
Other speakers included Dr Omar Jah, deputy vice chancellor of the University of The Gambia, who represented the Supreme Islamic Council, and Reverend Mother Priscilla Johnson, the general secretary of The Gambia Christian Council.