Saamasang trains Bafoloto women on violence against children

Saamasang Federation in collaboration with ChildFund The Gambia recently conducted a training workshop for women of Bafoloto village at the federation’s office in the village.

The training was to sensitise and give the woman basic knowledge of the negative impacts of violence against children in the communities.

Speaking to The Point newspaper, Haruna Badjie of Social Welfare who is also Saamasang’s regional coordinator for West Coast Region, said it has been realised that child marriage has more negative than positive effects to the child bride and mother.

He said the sensitisation of various stakeholders in The Gambia on child marriage has yielded dividend when President Yahya Jammeh banned it in the country and the necessary legislation put in place to criminalise the practice.

Mr Badjie said henceforth, the marriage of parties below the age of 18 is not recognised by law and is criminal.

However, he noted that though the law is important, its enforcement is the most crucial because that is what can help protect the children.

Lamin Fatty of Saamasang Federation said the training workshop was for parents whose children are within 6 to 14 years and are under Childfund sponsorship programme at Bafuloto community association.