The Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Mr. Muhammed BS Jallow, held an important meeting today with Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique, UNICEF Country Representative to The Gambia, at State House, Banjul. The two discussed extensively The Gambia’s progress in promoting child rights and the urgent efforts needed to protect every child’s right across the nation, addressing pressing challenges in critical areas such as education and child protection.
Ms. Shafique started by extending UNICEF’s congratulations to the Government of The Gambia on the successful submission of its periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child last year and requested the Vice President’s advice and support for a strong interministerial coordination of the implementation of the Concluding Observations received from the Committee. She reaffirmed UNICEF’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Government of The Gambia to this end and informed the Vice President on the support provided by UNICEF for the establishment of a child rights centre with the University of The Gambia and of a child rights monitoring mechanism with the National Human Rights Commission.
Ms. Shafique raised concerns about the escalating child protection issues within “Majalis”. She highlighted recent alarming incidents, including scabies outbreaks and a tragic fire in a Majalis in Sinchu, West Coast Region, that claimed the lives of two children. Ms. Shafique urged for more proactive measures to safeguard these vulnerable children, emphasizing the importance of leveraging existing policies and coordinated interventions and actions. She also called for enhanced monitoring of child safeguarding measures in Majalis and the strict upholding of laws guaranteeing every child’s rights, including the right to quality education and protection. Ms. Shafique happily reported to the Vice President that UNICEF has hired a consultancy firm and is working with various Ministries and other stakeholders to provide a holistic landscape analysis of Majalis centres in the country.
In addition, Ms. Binte Shafique underscored UNICEF’s deep commitment to vital programs like immunization and the prevention and treatment of malnutrition. However, she highlighted the stark reality of global funding cuts and their potential impact on these important sectors.
The UNICEF Country Representative made a strong plea to the Vice President for the Government’s increased financial support of key initiatives such as the procurement of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), which is essential for treating severe acute malnutrition. She advocated for greater public finance for children, urging the Vice President to champion this cause at the highest levels of government to ensure that Gambian children do not bear the brunt of these global funding cuts.
On his part, the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E Mohammed BS Jallow, commended UNICEF for its continuous support to the Gambian government and praised Ms. Shafique’s proactive dedication to protecting children and ensuring the full enjoyment of their rights. He acknowledged the existing challenges in fulfilling children’s rights but reiterated the Government’s unwavering commitment to this cause.
The Vice President assured Ms. Shafique of his office’s full support to coordinate with all relevant Government sectors to ensure children’s survival, development, education, protection, and overall well-being. He pledged to work closely with UNICEF to find lasting solutions for protecting all children, including those in Majalis across the country.
