THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA The Agency has opened four legal aid centres in the rural areas. The Basse (the Upper River Region) and Farafenni (North Bank Region) centres which were previously established are materially equipped and sufficiently staffed. The West Coast Region and Central River Region centres are in the process of being established. The Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia (FLAG) in addition to the pro bono legal services provided to disadvantaged women also embarks on various trainings, advocacy, sensitisation on various laws, legal clinics and awareness campaigns on different issues relating to women and their legal rights. Female Lawyers Association The Gambia (FLAG) is implementing legal empowerment initiatives that enable women to be active participants in using the law. These interventions include the provision of legal aid, capacity building and human rights awareness trainings. 1.3 Political participation and decision making The Gambia has taken a number of measures to improve the role of women in the political, economic and social life of the country. A specialised Government department called the Women`s Bureau has been set up since 1980 tasked with the responsibility of advising Government on the well-being of women and girls. Similarly, a National Women`s Council has been established by the National Women’s Council Act 1980, as amended in 2010. The Council is composed of 65 members with 8 nominated Councillors representing the interests of women countrywide. The Act mandates the Council to develop methods for the integration and implementation of gender and women’s rights initiatives in all areas of Government activities, to initiate education for all public officers and authorities regarding equality between women and men, examine and study the economic, social and cultural structure of the society and advise the Government on areas where the participation of women should be encouraged and strengthened. Section 28 of the Constitution also provides for the right to equal treatment of women, including equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities. Section 33 of the Constitution also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. In 2010, The Gambia also enacted the Women`s Act which is dedicated to the advancement of the rights and welfare of women. Some of the salient provisions of the Act include the right to dignity, access to 129