30 May 2008
This year's International Woman of Courage award for the Gambia was given to Dr. Isatou Touray, executive director of Gambia Committee on Tradition Practice (GAMCOTRAP).
The awards ceremony, which aims at congratulating "women of courage" who have largely contributed to the improvement of their society, is organised every year in the various United States embassies worldwide.
US ambassador to the Gambia Barry Wells, said: "Achieving the United States’ mission of advancing democracy, prosperity, and security worldwide is not possible without the empowerment of women. If women cannot participate in the political process, there can be no real democracy."
Another key factor underlined by Mr Wells is that women's education stands at the very core of a successful society as women are the ones who will pass on their knowledge to their children.
Dr. Isatou Touray has dedicated the award to GAMCOTRAP saying that they were "committed in the work [they] do because there are people who believe in the cause [they] stand for and who provide the support needed to continue engaging constructively with the communities".
GAMCOTRAP was established in 1984 to compete for women's and children's rights and protection in the Gambia.