By: Mariama Njie
Children National Assembly at the Kanifing Municipal Council have convey its first sitting where they discussed issues affecting children within the KMC with recommendations on 30th August, 2019 at the KMC Chambers.
Children National Assembly comprises of children, under the age of 18yrs. As children are not actively involved in decision making at the family, schools, local government or national levels and do not have many venues through which they can express their views and opinions.
Isatou Secka, the coordinator for children KM stated the function of children National Assembly; raising awareness on the rights and responsibilities of children, training children on life skills advocating, communication, building in children a sense of patriotism, tolerance and volunteerism, promoting education of girls, children with disabilities etc.
She explained that children were selected from different constituency to represent National Assembly KM; they are representing the voice of all the children in the municipality.
“These children gave presentation on different topics affecting children, issues like Child labour, Early marriage, FGM, Sexual violation, personal hygiene (menstrual hygiene) and Road safety,”
Aji Marie, a presenter said FGM is very bad, it brings a lot of harms to the victims, and they as children as the right to speak out to the government to put a stop to it,
Musa Bah, Deputy Mayor KMC said: “I am very delighted to be associated this initiative that children come together and discuss important issues that children are really going through’’
“You people are the seeds that will bear a type of tree the future will benefit, you children will be help to act movies for sensitization for other children and parents that don’t have the access,” he said. He assured them for KMC continuous support at all time for the benefit of The Gambia
