Madam Fatoumata Bah Barrow, the first lady of The Gambia has call on West African Leaders to help ending children on the move in the sub-region.
She made this remark while delivering the opening statement of the 14th steering committee meetings of Ecowas directors of child protection.
Madam Bah Barrow said Child protection is and must be considered to be a life-saving intervention, calling on West African governments to do everything within their means to make necessary provision for this intervention.
“All children on the move irrespective of their legal standing, age, gender, or health status should have access to protection and humanitarian assistance. By virtue of their high level of vulnerabilities, Children on the move require particular and urgent protection and emergency support once they are identified,” said First Lady Barrow.
She said The Gambia has put in place legislative and policy frameworks for the promotion and protection of the rights of children and has harmonized it’s legislations with ratified child-related international legal instruments. Highlighting key achievements registered by The Gambia government, the First Lady said;” The Children’s Act of 2005 was enacted, Tourism Offences Act of 2003, the amendment of key provisions in the Criminal Code (Cap. 10 Volume ¡¡¡) and has raised all ages therein to 18years”.
Madam Barrow promised to advocate for support, raised awareness and communication activities through dedicated campaigns on the promotion of children rights and children protection to raise the awareness among public authorities and the masses on child protection.
“In the last ten years, 9,000 children and youth on the move who found themselves in difficulties as a result of their travels benefitted from services of protection provided by about 500 communicating and collaborating state and non-state members of the West Africa Network,” She said of records.
Author: Kebba Ansu Manneh
