“Using our Art in speaking up against Gender-Based Violence is a passion we have had for years. We recognize the huge role men and boys play in the cycle of abuse. Therefore, we are using our voices through art to ensure girls are protected by society & survivors get the justice they deserve”  - Bright Stars

1 in 3 women experiences gender-based violence globally. In the Gambia, according to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) 2019-2022 about 4 in 10 ever-married women have experienced domestic violence and abuse. As such, the rate of such issues is significantly alarming. To ensure women and girls are protected from abuse and exploitation, there is a need to scale up efforts and accelerate innovative approaches to end GBV. Bright Stars Entertainment, a group of four dynamic young men use of fusion of music and comedy to transmit messages of concern to the general public, communities, and families enabling them to become conversant with the harmful impact and the negative consequences of such issues.

For Bright Stars, art has been a critical tool in speaking up and ensuring perpetrators of cases of GBV are held accountable and survivors given the justice they deserve. As male involvement and champions play a huge role in standing against such practices. This year’s theme of the 16 days of activism is UniTe Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, UNFPA The Gambia supported the Wah Sa Halat Musical Award by giving out the UNFPA activism award of the year. This is a medium to empower, motivate & honor young Gambians in the creative industries on the amazing work they do around women and girls, by ensuring their voices are heard and their rights respected and protected.

According to Assan Jobe, a member of the bright stars, “we chose to be activists for we are not just describing or representing it, but we intend to become the voices of the people by challenging dictatorships, promoting gender equality, protecting the human being, fighting against racism and tribalism, and other inhuman behaviors that could bring injustice and instability in a nation”. He expressed his deep-felt heart to UNFPA for the investments made as this would enable other activists who are keen on speaking against such issues to use their platform by ensuring an end to Gender Based Violence and all forms of harmful practices as this is one of UNFPA’s Transformative result by 2030.

For Pa Modou Yaffa, “Gender-Based Violence is a universal pandemic that affects both men and women. It is everyone’s responsibility to speak up and speak out to end the act. As issues of GBV affect everyone, either directly or indirectly”. He emphasized how the group plays a vital role in advocating for justice for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence,  especially women, girls, and children.

According to Yankuba Comma and Buba A Jallow “Our word to other activists is, to keep pushing the spirit of activism with or without awards. As the best award is changing the lives of people and imparting the knowledge of activism to the aspiring ones”. The team expressed how giving back to society has always been a major excitement for them.

UNFPA will continue to work with the government and young people in advocating and ensuring women and girls do not suffer in silence, but ensure their rights are respected and protected today and always. As gender-based violence is a human rights violation and is the result of structural, deep-rooted discrimination, which requires legislative, administrative, and institutional measures and reforms, including the eradication of gender stereotypes. Hence, through intensive collaboration with young people through Art, UNFPA will continue to protect and give voices to the voiceless.

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Media contact: Faith C. Ememodo – UNV Communications Associate ememodo@unfpa.org