UNICEF
Gambia Office Friday 18th November 2016 observed its 70th anniversary at a
partnership banquet and theatre evening held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
UNICEF
Resident Representative Mrs Sara Beysolow Nyanti in her partnership
appreciation statement, described the day as very important, not only for
UNICEF but for all their partners, as it celebrates 70 years of achievements
and results for children, both globally and in The Gambia.
“UNICEF
was established in 1946 to address the humanitarian needs of children affected
by the effects of World War II, providing food, clothing and healthcare to
them.”
In
1953, in the wake of the disease yaws, the United Nations General Assembly
extended UNICEFs mandate, and made it a permanent part of the body.
Since
then, she added, UNICEF has become the world’s leading international
organisation mandated to advocate for the rights and well-being of children.
She
added that over the years, they have seen significant life-saving transitions
in their work.
Key
among them, she went on, is the shifting of their focus from addressing the
needs of all children to narrowing their lens on the children, mothers and
communities that are the most vulnerable, thus ensuring equitable access to
essential social and development services for the least privileged.
“Our
partnership with the Government of The Islamic of The Gambia began 51 years
ago, when our first Cooperation Agreement was signed with the Government in May
1965, between Mr Gordon Carter, the then UNICEF Representative covering The
Gambia, and Alhaji A. B. Njie, MBE, JP, MP, Minister of State for External
Affairs.”
The
agreement articulated the mutual thinking between the government and UNICEF on
how to successfully address the most concerning of children’s issues by
ensuring that their rights are realised.
She
noted that since then, The Gambia has registered tremendous gains for its
children, many of which were supported by UNICEF.
Perhaps
one of the most significant achievements for the country in promoting the
rights of all children is its ratification and domestication of the UN’s
Convention on the Rights of The Child, in 1990 and 2005 respectively.
She
pointed out these actions have since created opportunities for an enabling
environment for all children, especially in their access to health, education
and protection services.
The
situation of Gambian children has improved considerably, according to her.
“Partnership
works with the support of UNICEF and other partners, malaria is being
eliminated, the country is almost open defecation-free, girls are equally
entering primary school as boys, and immunization coverage is the best in West
and Central Africa region,” she announced.
FGM/C
and child marriage have recently been banned, and children could be assured
that violators would be prosecuted due to legislation that is now available,
she added.
Unfortunately,
she went on, after 51 years of many successes, children still face
deprivations, as there are many children still out of school, and many also
suffer from various forms of violence and harmful practices which require a
strengthened child protection system.
Sara
Beysolow Nyanti said as they mark the occasion, they are also transitioning to
a new country programme of cooperation with the Gambia, for 2017-2021.
In
the spirit of excellent partnerships, she took time to recognise their
implementing partners from the government and civil society, during the current
country programme, 2012 to 2016.
She
thanked them for not only the partnership, but for the results achieved.
She
also thanked all for their partnership over the years, and looked forward to
much stronger and broader collaboration during the next country programme,
which begins in 2017.
