Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, spoke on Wednesday with The Gambia’s President, Adama Barrow, about their shared commitment to democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including the rights of women and girls.

Secretary Blinken expressed his appreciation for The Gambia as a leading voice in the protection of human rights globally.

Both Barrow and Blinken discussed the importance of addressing security challenges in the region and agreed to continue collaborating to promote peace and stability.

President Barrow expressed his gratitude for the United States’ support and partnership in promoting democracy and human rights in The Gambia. He reiterated his government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and human rights with the ongoing support of the United States.

The two leaders agreed to continue working together to advance these shared values and enhance cooperation on a range of issues of mutual interest.

The Gambia has recently drawn negative global attention after the parliament began debating a bill that could repeal the hard-fought protections for women and girls, notably the provisions banning female genital mutilation.

Meanwhile, President Barrow is also chairing the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), placing him at the center of critical issues in the Islamic world, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.