By: Nyima Sillah
The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, has expressed government’s commitment towards protectingthe wellbeing of Gambian children.
Speaking on Thursday during the launch at Senegambia Beach Hotel of the second phase ofProtection of Children, Victims of Human Rights Violation (PAPEV) project being implemented by her ministry in partnership with the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) West Africa Regional Office, Minister Kinteh said: “As a ministry, we are aware of the limited resources available to support children’s work. I wish to assure you of the government’s uncompromised stance against children’s rights violation and its commitment to do all in its power to protect the well-being of the children in The Gambia.”
She stated that the PAPEV project seeks to support the governments of The Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Guinea Conakry, and Mali to strengthen their national child protection systems.
“This regional approach is very much relevant in addressing a major problem of violation of the rights of children in our sub-region, trafficking of children, and forced child begging which is transboundary. Violence against children in our society continues to be widespread and grossly underreported despite the effort of the government and other actors to curb the problem,” she added.
The gender minister said in phase ll of the project, they would look at some of the challenges they encountered during phase 1 of PAPEV and address them with appropriate solutions.
The Resident Coordinator and WHO Country Rep., Dr. Desta Tiruneh, said the UN supports the government and other actors to strengthen child protection and strengthen its framework to reduce poverty as poverty usually intensifies violence and abuse of children.
“I wish to assure you of the support and commitment of the UN Community in The Gambia in the fight against the violations of the rights of children,” Dr. Tiruneh stated.
OHCHR WARO Regional Rep., Robert Kotchani, stated that investing in children and their protection is a way for the government to safeguard their most important resource.
“Creating laws alone is not enough. We must do all that we can to ensure that the laws protecting and promoting the rights of children are publicized, understood, and enforced,” he stressed.