ECOWAS Parliament condemns attack on Senegalese MP, Amy Ndiaye Gniby

ECOWAS Parliament reacts to Thursday’s brawl in the Senegalese Parliament after male opposition legislator, Massata Samb struck a female colleague, Amy Ndiaye Gniby, a member of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition, in the face

 

 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has unanimously condemned a recent attack on Honourable Amy Ndiaye Gniby, a member of the National Assembly of Senegal, on Thursday, 1st December 2022.

The Community’s Parliament had during its plenary session on 3rd December 2022, at the 2022 Second Ordinary Session deliberated and adopted the declaration, the content of which was contained in a press statement signed by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mohamed Sidie, and made available to the media through its Communication Department.

“The ECOWAS Parliament strongly condemns this despicable act unworthy of a parliamentarian from the ECOWAS region at a time when we are witnessing a proliferation of initiatives to prevent and eliminate violence against women and come helping women who are victims of it;

Reiterates its commitment to respect for women, and reaffirms that any form of violence against women is unacceptable, whatever the situation and whatever the circumstances;

Recalls that the State of Senegal, in addition to its fundamental law, has signed and ratified the international legal instruments relating to gender-based violence;

Reaffirms that this act, whatever the circumstances, cannot be justified nor tolerated in a country which guarantees parity between men and women in politics,” part of the statement read.

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“Considering that one of the key goals of the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament is to strengthen women’s participation in politics and that the action as witnessed is very regrettable as it sends negative impressions of the gains made in the past few years, the ECOWAS Parliament will continue to support and advocate for increased women participation and condemn any act of violence and abuse against women in general,” the statement added.

Noting that the parliament received the report with great dismay and deep indignation, he described the act of violence on Amy Ndiaye Gniby as barbaric and despicable.

The Parliament also wished the victim a speedy recovery while urging the Senegalese State, in collaboration with its National Assembly, to take the necessary steps to ensure justice in the unfortunate event.