The Gambia Inter-Religious Council (GIRC) has engaged religious leaders, community representatives and social media influencers to develop messages promoting child protection, peaceful coexistence and social stability ahead of the December presidential election.
The day-long engagement, held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, was funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the theme “Protecting Children and Strengthening Community Resilience.”
The engagement sought to strengthen collaboration among religious institutions, communities and digital influencers in preventing children from being exposed to political exploitation, violence, hate speech and harmful online content during the electoral period.
Speaking at the event, Imam Basirou Drammeh, National Coordinator of the GIRC, said political tensions during election cycles often increase the risks of hate speech, online harm and religious polarisation, with children among those most vulnerable to the consequences.
He said the engagement was not merely an opportunity for speeches but a platform for participants to jointly develop practical and persuasive messages rooted in religious, traditional and universal human rights values.
“Our children must never be exploited, weaponised, or used as tools in party politics or political rivalries,” he emphasised.
Imam Drammeh called for messages that promote interfaith understanding, civic tolerance and non-violent political campaigns, stressing that political differences must not divide communities along religious, ethnic or sectarian lines.
He said the messages developed during the engagement would be translated into audio voice notes and disseminated through community radio broadcasts, social media campaigns and other communication channels across the country’s seven administrative regions.
He also expressed gratitude to UNICEF for supporting the initiative and acknowledged the contributions of government institutions, regional authorities and other partners.
The Deputy Representative of UNICEF in The Gambia, Armand Gnahore, said elections were an essential part of democratic life, providing citizens with opportunities to participate peacefully in shaping their country’s future.
However, he warned that political competition could also generate tensions, misinformation and violence, creating unsafe environments for children.
He said children could be exposed to political manipulation, physical violence, disrupted education, interruptions to essential services and online abuse during electoral periods.
Gnahore further noted that the expansion of digital platforms had created opportunities for public participation and information sharing but also increased the risks of hate speech, misinformation and harmful content.
He stressed the need for child-sensitive political processes and public discourse that ensure every child enjoys a safe, peaceful and protective environment before, during and after elections.
According to him, UNICEF values its partnership with the GIRC in working with religious leaders, faith communities and social media influencers to promote responsible communication, peaceful civic engagement and stronger community resilience.
Representing the Supreme Islamic Council, Imam Ousman Jah welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that the deliberations would produce meaningful resolutions for the country and its children.
Lamin Nyassi, representing the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), also welcomed the initiative, describing the proposed messages as complementary to the council’s civic education efforts.
Participants were encouraged to contribute practical, culturally appropriate and inclusive messages that would help political actors, communities and other stakeholders prioritise children’s rights and welfare throughout the electoral process.
The initiative comes as The Gambia prepares for the December presidential election, with stakeholders emphasising the importance of preventing political differences from undermining children’s safety, community relationships and national stability.
