“Catalysts for Change: Voices from TAP-EDM Partnerships” Series
In The Gambia, short-term technical assistance through the TAP-EDM initiative supported the Ministry of Justice’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit in addressing widespread gender-based violence. With the expertise of Canadian lawyer Anju Fujioka, the initiative provided training to police investigators, prosecutors, and magistrates on the investigation and prosecution of SGBV cases, as well as guidance on domestic laws. This collaboration strengthened the Unit’s capacity to secure justice for survivors, particularly women and children. The TAP program is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea International.
Background
In the Gambia, 46% of women have experienced some kind of physical violence since the age of 15, while 9% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have experienced sexual violence1. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), as defined by UNHCR, is violence against a person based on gender and power imbalances, often driven by social norms and attitudes that tolerate abuse in homes, workplaces, and communities.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Justice created the SGBV Unit. The mandate of the unit is to improve the prosecution of sexual offense cases involving assault, rape, and other forms of sexual exploitation, particularly against women and children.
In 2021, the Government of The Gambia requested Canadian technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry’s SGBV unit. Through the TAP-EDM initiative, a Canadian expert delivered two training sessions—one on investigative and prosecutorial challenges in SGBV cases, and another on relevant domestic laws. Participants included police investigators, prosecutors from the Ministry of Justice, and magistrates. We spoke with one of the participants who shared their story with us but asked to remain anonymous. Therefore, from now on, they will be referred to as “Storyteller.”
The Story
Our Storyteller works as a state counselor and prosecutor at the Ministry of Justice, focusing on investigating and prosecuting cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Although they were eager and committed, they didn’t have much hands-on experience at first and needed more specialized knowledge to deal with SGBV cases effectively.
Taking part in the training on SGBV investigation and prosecution, led by our Canadian expert, was a turning point for the Storyteller. At the time, they had just been appointed as State Counsel;
“I had little or no experience in prosecuting and taking on cases,” the Storyteller said. “It really impacted me.”
From the trainings, the storyteller learnt that they needed to directly engage with the police and the victim. They also gained an understanding of the importance of gathering information to use to prosecute.
“It doesn’t stop at the information that the police have gathered”, they explained. “You have to meet with the victim. You have to know the environment where the incident happened. And you need to be able to convince the judge to believe the story of the victim.”
Through their participation in the training, the Storyteller also broadened their understanding of their role as a prosecutor, realizing it needed to go beyond providing legal services. Reflecting on this point, they said:
“some of them [the victims] needed psycho-social support. And some needed more medical attention. And some needed financial support, so from the training, we were able to begin providing those kinds of support to some of the victims.”
As part of the training, participants learned important victim-centered approaches and developed practical skills in gathering evidence and building cases.
The Storyteller explained how the training has made a meaningful impact on their work. They described a complex case where the skills they learned helped them approach the family with empathy:
“It gives you an opportunity to know how to approach the family, to discuss with them, and convince them to come forward and give evidence.”
The Storyteller explained that this was significant because it sometimes takes a lot of convincing to ensure that victims and their families understand the importance of prosecuting such cases. They help them understand that this can protect other kids as well as their community.
Through this experience, the Storyteller was not only able to move the case forward with stronger evidence but also help connect the family to additional support services, demonstrating the broader impact of the training on access to justice and survivor well-being.
The training, designed to enhance the prosecutorial response to SGBV, made a meaningful difference in the Storyteller’s work. As a result, they foresaw some potential long-term effects stemming from TAP-EDM’s initiative:
“there has been a change of approach in prosecuting cases. That is one. The community will also have a better understanding of the effects of SGBV cases. And there might even be a reduction of SGBV cases in the community or the country.”
Conclusion
This moving story, shared by a prosecutor from The Gambia, shows how knowledge can drive change and highlights the vital role of capacity-building initiatives in helping professionals strengthen their skills to combat SGBV and pursue justice.