Isatou Dabo made this disclosure on Tuesday during activities commemorating World Day Against Trafficking-In Persons held at Bakadaji Hotel.
The event, held on the theme: ‘Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking’, serves as an important reminder for all of us, to not only remember that children get trafficked on daily basis, but also that these children deserve and require certain safeguards to protect them from human trafficking irrespective of their race, colour, religion, nationality or social background.
This year’s commemoration, she added, is a call for action, for concerted efforts that not only protect adult-victims of human trafficking but efforts that facilitate resources designed to deliberately cater for the needs of the children as well.
"And by children I mean every child," she emphasised.
NAATIP ED maintained that the responsibility to protect these children is not only on the parents, guardian or person under whose custody these children are, rather it is the responsibility of each community, civil society, organisation and the private sector.
"What we do for our children today, what we do for every child does not have an impact on what the future will be. This will affect how community is governed; decisions made in key areas of development and in essence affect the very fabric of our society."
She recalled that over the years, The Gambia has developed series of policies on child protection and has equally passed laws aimed at safeguarding the rights of every child including child victims.
"You will agree with me that a legal framework in addressing any social menace is not the end. In respect of trafficking in persons, the setting up of the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), mandated to combat trafficking in persons and the work it does in the protection of children against trafficking continues to facilitate and provide services for the most vulnerable."
She stressed the need for continued collaboration to further strengthen, increase and improve services for child victims of trafficking.
That, she said, extends to procedures in handling trafficking victims, short-term shelter services specific to child victims, care and recreational materials among a host of others.
