2024/06/20 by Touray, Isatou
#Good morning Dr. Isatou Touray. Thank you for joining us today in order to discuss the current debate around FGM in The Gambia. Before we start #could you please tell us a bit more about yourself?
paper · doi:10.57832/xzsx-rm16
Good morning. Thank you for the invitation. I am Dr. Isatou Touray from The Gambia. After completing my secondary education, I pursued higher studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto in Nigeria, where I obtained a bachelor's degree in Education and English. Later, I went on to study at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands, earning a master's degree in Development Studies and specializing on women and development. Subsequently, I completed my PhD in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in social activism, particularly in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In 1984, I co-founded The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) with the aim of putting an end to FGMs. Serving as the Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, I advocated for the eradication of this harmful practice. Additionally, I chaired The Gambia Chapter of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) from 2006 to 2011 and served as the Secretary-General of the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children from 2009 to 2014. In 2016, I became the first female presidential candidate in The Gambia. Although I withdrew from the race to endorse Adama Barrow and Coalition 2016, I continued my political journey by accepting various ministerial positions. I was appointed Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment in 2017 and later served as Minister of Health and Social Welfare following a reshuffle in 2018. In 2019, I was appointed Vice-President of The Gambia, succeeding Ousainou Darboe, in a significant cabinet reshuffle. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to promoting gender equality, social justice, and public health in The Gambia, and I remain committed to serving my country and its people to the best of my abilities.