By Omar Bah
The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission has called on the government to research children’s welfare in The Gambia. The World Health Organisation estimated last year that globally, up to a billion children aged 2-17 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. Every day, millions of children experience violence in one form or another.
Chairman Emmanuel Joof made these remarks at the official launch of the second phase of the PAPEV project aimed at protecting children’s victims of human rights violations. Implemented by the Ministry of Gender in partnership with the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) West Africa Regional Office, the project is funded by the Italian Development Corporation Agency in Dakar, Senegal. It focuses on supporting the child protection systems in The Gambia.
In his remark, Emmanuel encouraged the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare to research the plight of children in the Gambia. He also indicated that the last research on “child street begging” was conducted in 1992. More studies need to be done on ‘children in conflict with the law’ and the use of drugs and substances amongst children and related issues and also ensuring that the Minimum Standard of Care for Residential Child Facilities is effectively implemented and monitored.”
Chairman Joof said there must be consequences for those who violate children’s rights, and those tasked and entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the rights of children should also be held accountable where they fail to do so. He added that the state is responsible for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling children’s rights. It is “our hope that collectively we can create a Gambia where every child enjoys their fundamental rights and freedoms.”
The NHRC had designated a specific child rights focal point to enhance mainstreaming of child rights programming, ensure swift action to resolve child rights violations and support active advocacy for mainstreaming a human right-based and child-centered approach in implementing the Children Act 2005 and stakeholders’ interventions.
Chairman Joof said that despite the progress made in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, children in The Gambia still face many challenges and rights violations. He further attributed that “Children, especially the girl child, are still at risk of FGM, child marriage, violence and exploitation, and other types of abuse. In addition, children with disabilities continue to be left behind due to the non-operationalisation of the Persons with Disability Act 2021.”
Joof said sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children remain a challenge in the country where it is still taboo to talk about these issues, and “our law enforcement officers are not adequately trained, sensitized and oriented to handle sexual and gender-based violence against children.” Add to his claim that many children in The Gambia are still subjected to child labor, including domestic, commercial, and sexual exploitation. Children are also engaged in child labor in agriculture. Many children are also roaming the streets, especially in major towns like Kerewan, Farafenni, Soma, and Basse, begging on the roads during school days and hours.
