In a bid to promote and safeguard fundamental rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Program for the Protection of Children Victims of Rights Violations (PAPEV), and UN agencies in The Gambia have initiated a three-day training session for the National Assembly Select Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Health, Humanitarian Relief and Refugees, and Human Rights and Constitutional Matters.
The training aims to enhance the comprehension and expertise of national assembly members regarding women’s and children’s rights and their incorporation into policy development.
Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, addressed the lawmakers and said no country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens.
“The potential of women to contribute in transforming societies and economies, and the power of an educated girl to transform her family, her community, and her country, and the importance of children in society and how they should be protected at all times. There is no other resource that a country can boast of other than that of its children. Children who have been well groomed, protected, cared for, and provided with a loving home have a lot to offer their generation and contribute to the development of their country. Just as a generation of abused, exploited, and traumatized children for any country will translate to making dysfunctional future leaders and policymakers, which translates further to having a dysfunctional society,” she said.
She informed the lawmakers that the Government of The Gambia has signed and ratified major international and regional human rights instruments relating to children and women.
Karl Frederick Paul, the new UN resident coordinator in the Gambia, said that the Gambia has embarked on a transitional justice process, underscored by the establishment of key institutions such as the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
According to the UN diplomat, these efforts have been instrumental in shedding light on past injustices and advancing initiatives to foster a society built on justice, equality, and respect for human rights.
“Amidst these achievements, we must acknowledge the persistent challenges that warrant our steadfast attention and united action.
The threat to the repeal of the anti-FGM law highlights the fragility of our established rights”, he highlighted.
The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Emmanuel Daniel Joof, stressed that this training focuses on human rights, children’s rights, and women’s health. He thanked the high commissioner’s office for coming up with this initiative.
“As lawmakers and representatives of the people, you play a critical role in ensuring that every citizen enjoys their fundamental rights and freedoms; this training aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to champion human rights, protect the rights of children, and protect women’s health effectively,” he told NAMs.
