The Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has reaffirmed the legislature’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of minors, declaring that issues concerning children, women, and girls remain a top priority on the parliamentary agenda.
The Hon. Speaker made these remarks today at the National Assembly complex in Banjul while receiving a high-level United Nations delegation led by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.
The UN envoy was accompanied by a technical team from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), led by the UNICEF Representative to The Gambia, Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique.
The strategic visit was aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and the Gambian Legislature. The discussions focused on understanding the National Assembly’s current mechanisms for addressing child rights violations and exploring avenues to enhance legal frameworks to better protect vulnerable populations.
Addressing the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Maalla M’jid emphasized the complexity of protecting children in a modern society. She noted that child protection is a cross-sectoral matter that cannot be managed in silos. She advocated for a holistic approach, stressing that the elimination of violence against children requires the synchronized involvement of all.
She urged the National Assembly to utilize its constitutional powers to ensure that laws protecting children are not only enacted but are effectively implemented and funded.
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