Nfamara Jawneh was speaking on Tuesday at Essau Senior Secondary School in North Bank Region.
Addressing students as part of human rights walk, Jawneh said the theme for this year- ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now’, underscores the urgency of safeguarding children’s rights.
He reaffirmed Beakanyang’s continued commitment to promoting human rights particularly the rights of children.
According to him, despite significant gains made after the 2016 change of government, not everyone in the country is enjoying their fundamental human rights.
To that end, he made refence to arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens by the police and urged a stoppage to those.
He used the opportunity to call on all Gambians to learn more about their rights and to defend them at all times.
Jawneh also reaffirmed Beakanyang’s commitment to bringing human rights education to the door step of all Gambians irrespective of where they live.
“We have about 50 human rights clubs across the country and by next year we will be launching more clubs including child rights clubs.” he declared.
The day, he said, is special for many reasons, adding that it is a day dedicated to reflecting on the power and potential of young people and their role in shaping the world.
“It is also a moment for us, as a society, to fulfill our collective responsibility in respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of children and youth.” he said.
The importance of respecting human rights - especially for children - cannot be overstated, he added.
Jawneh, who also doubles as the chairperson of Child Protection Alliance said children are not only our future but are the foundation upon which that future is built.
“When we ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, we lay the groundwork for a society that is just, equitable and sustainable.”
Speaking earlier, Adama Jeng, principal of the school, thanked Beakanyang for choosing his school to mark such an important day.
“We commend the approach you are taking by targeting young people so that we could not have a repeat of past human rights violations in the country.” he said.
Jeng went further to state the significance that awareness raising in human rights will have for the society and the future.
With engagement with students and human rights clubs in schools, Mr. Jeng believes 'it is just a matter of time until human rights issues become a reality for all in The Gambia'.
He equally thanked Jawneh and through him the entire Beakanyang Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights through the Office of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in The Gambia for supporting the activity.
During the event, four students from the school’s human rights club namely Foday Sidibeh, Cherno Jallow, Samba Drammeh, and Abdoulie Dembele, read poems on human rights: calling for the respect, protection and ensuring the fulfillment of human rights.
The school drama group also performed a short drama on the theme child labour and education while Foday Sidibeh, head boy of the school gave a vote of thanks.
