(Thursday August 25th, 2016 Issue)
Based
on the recommendation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
lawmakers yesterday overwhelmingly voted for a motion seeking the recognition
and commemoration of the 15th day of Ramadan as Orphans’ Day in the Islamic
organization’s member states.
The
lawmakers held an extraordinary session yesterday to declare the 15th day of
Ramadan as Orphan’s Day, as recommended by the OIC for its member states and
international humanitarian organizations.
The
OIC in June appealed to all its member states and humanitarian organisations to
undertake all relevant actions to raise awareness on the issues of orphans and
their needs, on the occasion of the Orphan’s Day in the Islamic World, set for
the 15th day of Ramadan annually, after a resolution was passed in Conakry in
2013.
The
foreign minister, Neneh MacDouall-Gaye, who tabled the bill before lawmakers,
said the plight of orphans is of great concern to the governments of the member
countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“The
issue and plight of Orphans worldwide with particular emphasis on the plight of
Orphans in the Islamic Ummah is a matter of great concern to individuals,
governments, the international community and humanitarian organisations and our
great leaders of the Islamic Ummah.”
Minister
MacDouall-Gaye also revealed that the OIC has recently written to all its
member states reminding them of the need to approve and recognise the day.
She
said, “The Gambia has paid particular attention to the vulnerability of orphans
locally, as well as in other OIC member states.”
The
needs of orphans in the Islamic world struck by disasters are immense and the
“responses still remain inadequate”, she added.
The
lawmakers unanimously welcomed the motion, describing it as “timely” and
“relevant”.
The
deputy Speaker, Hon. Fatou Mbye, spoke on the relevance of the day, saying it
is very important to observe the day - especially on the 15th of Ramadan as
Orphans’ Day.
She
said that in 2003, the Social Welfare Department did a survey which revealed
that about 65,000 orphans and vulnerable children are in The Gambia, and she
was sure that by now that figure had increased.
The
OIC launched a special programme for the welfare and protection of orphans,
after the catastrophic Tsunami that hit Indonesia and a number of other states.
The
Gambia is preparing to host the OIC summit in 2018.