By Haruna Kuyateh
Child Protection Alliance CPA in collaboration Department of Social Welfare and with support from UNICEF sensitized authorities and communities in North Bank Region on child protection and children on the move that seeks to protect them from violence exploitation and abuse.
The program anticipated communities and institutions to end the culture of silence and report all cases of child abuse and reporting to Department of Social Welfare, Community Child Protection Committee and Police Child Welfare unit for redress in the best interest of a child.
The chairman of Kerewan Area Council Malamin IL Bojang has underscored the importance government attaches to child protection, case management, the creation of Ministry of Women and Children as it demonstrated their commitment to ensure proper legislation and children act are put in place, citing children collaborative partnership with Child Protection Alliance on operation Children National Assembly among others.
He noted that women play an important role in child protection and therefore stressed the need for dialogue and consultation to strongly advocate for protection of children on the move.
Chief Fabala Fadia Kinteh of Lower Baddibou calls on alkalolu, women leaders and religious scholars to intensify campaign on child protection from all forms of violence. Lower Baddibou chief assured of district authority and tribunal support to end all forms of violence against children.
Lamin K Saidy Program Office and Child Advocacy Focal Point at Child Protection Alliance CPA noted that protecting children on the move from violence exploitation and abuse and by extension prevention of movement at risks group. He said the objective is to strengthen community-based structure capacities and adopt positive behavior to influence in changing child migration trend. He calls on stakeholders to support the fight in curbing violence on children and those on the move.
Abuse of child rights remain a concern for CPA, Department of Social Welfare and UNICEF and therefore it is anticipated that such kind of convergence would contribute immensely to help community to spearhead child protection issue and advocate effective and efficient case management by relevant authorities. The intervention of CPA in Ndungu Kebbeh was seen as important as it is a lumoo community or weekly market place.
Alasana Sanneh Senior Social Welfare Assistant at Department of Social Welfare in NBR said the orientation would enhance effective case management issues at households and community levels. The initiative would advocate for all stakeholders in promoting referral systems to relevant authorities for redress.
Women lauded CPA and partners for their support in raising public awareness on the negative effects of child protection, strengthen community public structures in responding to the interest of child.
Dodou Jagne Car Park Attendant at Barra Car Park said transporters plying between Senegal and Gambia are committed to report child abuse and child on the move to Barra Police station for support. He noted that children on the move between the countries are as a result of in search of Islamic education and assured of driver’s commitment to the safety of children on the move.
Mariama Drammeh Child Welfare Officer at Barra Police Station noted child abuse case is a concern and call for collective efforts to address and respect child rights issue. She applauded transport union members in Barra for their support in reporting child abuse case. Imam Alieu Badar Jeng of Imam call on education of children to inculcate good moral and said youths and children to take up skills that would contribute to enhance social safety program