As The Gambia joined the rest of the world to celebrate world Human Rights Day Tuesday, stakeholders and right defenders renewed calls for the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights which remain a big challenge for the world especially the developing countries.
The United Nations has set aside December 10 every year for the celebration all over the world which will accord the member states to reflect on the significance gain for the past years and the way forward with regards to human rights principle and policies.
Tuesday celebration was interspersed with march pass by students from various schools within the Greater Banjul Areas.
Ajaratu Tida Jatta-Jarjou is the Director of Basic and Secondary Education Department and described the day as “significance in the history of the country.”
The education policy is in line with the principles of human rights as education is a fundamental human right which every human being is entitled to especially children, Madame Jarjou told the participants in her welcoming remarks, while calling for behavourial change towards human rights issues.
Delivery her statement on the topic, the impacts of human rights friendly schools project in pilot schools, the teacher coordinator, Sally Colley gave a brief synopsis of the achievement of the project since its establishment as far children rights to education are concerned
The Human Rights Friendly Schools Project is built on the principles and promotion of human rights with the main objective of improving the curriculum vita of schools and access to education with creation of conducive environment.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice was represented by the Curator, Isatou Graham delivered statement on the topic, “the role of government in protecting human rights of its citizens especially children. Said today marked a new dawn in the history of The Gambia as far as the establishment of human rights friendly schools project in the pilot schools are concerned.
Madame Graham highlighted the commitment of the government in the promotion and protection of human rights, saying “there is tremendous improvement in the promotion and protection of democracy and human rights in the country but there is still more to be done.”
Lamin Fatty, national coordinator of Child Protection Alliance who dwelt on “The role of Civil Society Organisation in promoting and protecting child’s right.
Fatty described the day as “a moment of reflection” called for awareness creation by the civil society organization which he said is one of the factors undermining the promotion and protection of human rights due to the negative perception attached to human rights issues.
