Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – President Adama Barrow has revealed that 75 survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) received financial assistance from the government in 2025, while announcing that a specialised court dedicated to handling such cases is expected to be inaugurated in 2026.
Delivering his 2026 State of the Nation Address, the president said each of the 75 beneficiaries received D40,000 through the Support to Victims of Gender-Based Violence Fund in December 2025. The payments amounted to a total disbursement of D3 million.
The disclosure provides the first official breakdown of direct financial support extended to GBV survivors during the reporting period.
According to the president, the financial assistance forms part of government efforts to support survivors and strengthen social protection mechanisms addressing gender-based violence.
Specialized GBV Court Planned
In the same address, President Barrow announced that a specialised court designed to handle gender-based violence cases has been completed and is scheduled to be inaugurated in the second quarter of 2026.
He said the initiative is intended to help address delays in the administration of justice for GBV-related cases. Once operational, the facility will make The Gambia the sixth country in Africa to establish a court specifically dedicated to gender-based violence matters.
However, the president did not provide further details about the court’s operational structure, including staffing arrangements, jurisdiction, or the number of cases it is expected to handle.
The update on GBV interventions forms part of the government’s broader social protection and justice sector reforms outlined during the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
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