Young
People in the Media (YPM) and stakeholders in child protection call on all
parents, guardians, security forces and authorities in custody of children to
ensure that all children are fully protected and their safety is guaranteed
during the Gambia’s 52nd Independence celebration and Presidential inauguration
of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, slated for Saturday 18th February
2017.
As
a child led advocacy organization, we realize with great concern during such
celebration the anxiety that accompanies children, must therefore be understood
by all sectors of society.
Children,
being one of the most vulnerable segments of the civilian population, are at
times negatively affected in various ways such as missing, injured or at times
abuse by a potential abuser.
The
protection of all unaccompanied children must be prioritized during this
festive season, noted Abdou Jatta, Executive Coordinator of YPM and Member of
the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth UN MGCY.
We
thank all partners for their support in ensuring that the rights and needs of
all children are met and protected during the political impasses in the
country; which has such a profound impact on children’s situations, including
in the peacebuilding phase.
Mass
exposure of children and youth, lack of education, and poor nutrition, but with
the support of all partners including the international community to protect
children’s individual rights in emergency has progressively been developed,
thus this is manifested in an increased involvement of the international
community on this issue, with the objective of preserving the future human
capital of a country precious asset and treasure its children.
As
stakeholders in child protection , we wish to express our sincere gratitude to
all partners, such as UN agencies, the Coalition Taskforce , Red Cross, Immigration
department, Department of Social Welfare , Police Child Welfare Units, The
Gambia Armed Forces, Embassies, and all
child protection partners for the support , technical assistance and services
rendered across border posts within the country and
outside to ensure the maintenance and up
keep of children; ensuring the return of those children and parents that fled
the country during the political impasses in the country. We finally call upon the Gambia Red Cross
Society and partners in children protection to redouble efforts in terms of
increasing number of volunteers’ presence in providing enough drinking water
and good nutritional food for all children during the independence celebration.
Every
society hopes and expects that its children will grow up to be capable and
responsible citizens who will contribute immensely to the development of their
societies. This can only be attained if children are brought up in an
environment where they are loved, cared, cherished and are free from poverty,
conflict and violence.
We
wish to use this opportunity once again to congratulate His Excellency Adama Barrow - President of
the Republic of Gambia and its citizenry of our continued assurance to work
with government and all stakeholders in child protection on our continue
advocacy on the issues and the laws in place on
the promotion and protection of the child rights and equity agenda of
all children and young people in our drive towards advancing the work being
done for the children and young people of
our beloved country.
