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Current Feed ContentAssembly ratifies children’s involvement in Armed Conflict protocolMonday, April 07, 2008 Having regard to the threat and dangers posed by armed conflicts in our country’s drive for peace, stability, economic growth and development within the sub-region and the continent as a whole, members of the National Assembly last Wednesday unanimously ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the involevement of Children in Armed Conflict. The protocol was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, and entered into force on the 12th February 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland, to increase the protection of children and combat their involvement in armed conflict so as to ensure their full enjoyment of the CRC. Tabling the convention for ratification before NAMs, Marie Saine-Firdaus, Attorney General and secretary of state for Justice said armed conflicts has had harmful and widespread impact on children and serious consequences on durable peace, security and development globally and within our sub-region in particular. She noted that, armed groups and state armies have forcefully recruited children to take part in direct hostilities noting that this constitutes a serious violation of the human rights of these children, particularly, their rights to peace, physical integrity, life education, freedom, security and devlopment. Minimum age SoS Saine-Firdau added that the protocol sets the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the armed forces to 18 years as provided in the CRC and obligate state parties to submit a written declaration at the time of depositing their instrument of ratification. Criminalisation of offences She added that, the protocol also provides that the use of recruitment of children below the age of 18 years to take a direct part in hostilities for whatever reason, either by the state or by armed groups, must be prohibited and criminlised. Protection of child victims Here, she noted that the protocol provides that child victims used or recruited for armed conflict must be demobilised or release from service and where necessary, shall be provided with appropriate assistance for their physical and physiological recovery and social reintegration. International cooperation The Attorney General and SoS for Justice highlighted that, it also provides for cooperation of state parties in the implementation of the protocol, the prevention of any activity contrary thereto, and the rehabilitation and social integration of person who are victims of acts contrary thereto. Supporting the ratification, Momodou Touray, NAM for Central Baddibou, called on parents to know that it is their duty to protect the children from such harmful activities. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East noted that the protocol was long over-due, adding that it is just a formality for The Gambia to ratify this protocol. This, he said, is for the fact that there is already a childrens’ act, trafficking in persons act and certain clauses of protection to children entailed in the constitution. Author: by Alhagie Jobe President receives Child Friendly Award Friday, February 22, 2008 More personalities honoured President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, was on Saturday, awarded the 2007 National Child Friendly Award at a colourful ceremony held at the Paradise Suites Hotel, Kololi. The event - organised by the Young People in Media (YPM) The Gambia - also saw other personalities receive several awards. Marie Saine Firdaus, attorney general and SoS for Justice, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, SoS for Communication and Information Technology, and the late Belinda Bidwell who had served as the speaker of the National Assembly, all received awards. Madam Adelade Sosseh, a veteran educationalist and Ebrima Jaw Manneh, the deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer, Jalamang Camara, former national coordinator of CPA, and Samsideen Fatty, were among those awarded for their “undefeatable and profound selfless commitment to youth development and child rights promotion and protection”. Child Protection Alliance (CPA), which has been at the forefront of advocacy and child rights promotion and protection was also honoured. Delivering a statement on behalf of SoS Macdouall-Gaye, Lamin Camara, principal ICT officer at the Department of State for Communication and Information Technology, lauded the efforts of members of YPM The Gambia for advocating for child rights through their various media activities. Mr Camara urged the youngsters to stick to the ethical principles of media in a bid to make society more vibrant for young people to access to information. Deputising for Fatou Camara-Saidy, the board chairperson of YPM The Gambia, Alex Dacosta, deputy board chairperson of YPM, recalled that the organisation came into existence in early 2006 to empower young people within the framework of participatory platform for children and young people in electronic, broadcast and print media. “We also deemed it necessary to address inequalities among children and young people, promote and protect the rights and well-being of children in society,’’ he said, adding that the organisation also tasked itself to advocate on child abuse, teenage and unwanted pregnancies, as well as raise awareness on the UN Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC). In a detailed speech, Pa Ousman Manneh, communication analyst of Unicef The Gambia, who stood in for the Unicef Country Representative, told the gathering that YPM activities are in line with Unicef objectives, quoting Article 17 of the CRC, which states that “state parties shall encourage mass media to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child”. Abdou Jatta, president of YPM, stressed the need for more efforts to be directed towards the promotion and protection of children’s rights, and to enable them speak their minds and to freely seek, receive information that could contribute to their well-being. Satang Nabaneh, secretary general of YPM, said a lot of achievements were registered by the organisation since its inception. Ms Nabaneh pointed to capacity building on media literacy and the participation of its members in international forums as some of the successes. She disclosed that the organisation has successfully signed a memorandum of understanding with Radijojo, a world children’s radio network based in Berlin, Germany, for future cooperation. Bintou Sonko, vice president of YPM The Gambia, chaired the award ceremony, which was also punctuated with live performances by Rongo and Nancy Nantz.
Author: by Hatab Fadera |
