Rohey Samba Jallow | Oct. 2, 2025

The Gambia has reached a significant milestone in its fight against gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEA/SH) with the validation of a new GBV/SEA/SH Medical Reporting Form. This landmark reform was made possible through the support of the Tourism Diversification and Resilience in The Gambia Project (TDRGP), which is funded by the World Bank.

For decades, the country relied on a colonial-era reporting form originally designed for general assault cases. According to Aisha Camara, Chairperson of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit at the Ministry of Justice, the outdated tool was “inadequate for GBV survivors, restricting access to justice and making it difficult for medical professionals to properly document cases.”

Recognizing these critical gaps, the TDRGP spearheaded the development of a modern, survivor-centered, and standardized reporting tool that meets both medical and legal needs.
“This initiative underscores the Project’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable groups and managing social risks within the tourism sector. Tourism growth must rest on a foundation of justice and dignity,” emphasized Mr. Momodou Ceesay, Project Director of the TDRGP, during the validation.

While the TDRGP is widely recognized for strengthening tourism competitiveness and resilience, this reform demonstrates that social protection is central to its mission. By funding and coordinating the process, the project reinforces that sustainable tourism cannot be achieved without addressing GBV risks and ensuring inclusive systems of care and accountability.
Key Contributions of the TDRGP

The project’s role was instrumental in:
- Convening stakeholders to design a specialized GBV/SEA/SH medical reporting form.
- Aligning the tool with WHO standards and ECOWAS guidelines, while tailoring it to The Gambia’s context.
- Financing the first batch of printed forms to ensure immediate roll-out in hospitals and health centers.
- Establishing a sustainability framework where national institutions will oversee reproduction and distribution, ensuring long-term use beyond the project.

The validation event brought together representatives from government ministries, health professionals, civil society organizations, and development partners. Each stakeholder acknowledged the TDRGP’s leadership in coordinating such a complex but vital reform.

Special appreciation was extended to the World Bank for its technical support, and to frontline health workers who will use the form daily to deliver survivor-centered care.

Ms. Fatoumatta Dibba, Deputy Director of Health Services, described the form as a turning point: “Designed to serve both medical and legal purposes, it strengthens referral pathways, improves evidence documentation, and ensures that survivors’ stories are not just heard but acted upon.”

The new GBV/SEA/SH Medical Reporting Form is more than a technical tool—it symbolizes The Gambia’s national commitment to protect survivors, deliver justice, and uphold human dignity. By embedding this initiative within the TDRGP, the government affirms that a resilient tourism sector must also safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable.

As the Project Director concluded: “Behind every form is a survivor whose story deserves to be heard with compassion and acted upon with integrity.”