By Sarjo M. Camara
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, in collaboration with its partners, convened a two-day Child Protection Steering Committee meeting at SOS Bakoteh Children’s Village from 28–29 July 2026, reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to advancing child protection reforms.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Children’s Affairs, Mrs Bintou H.K. Fatty, described the Steering Committee as a vital platform for coordination, dialogue, and collective action to safeguard the rights and well-being of children across the country. She noted that The Gambia has made significant progress in strengthening its child protection system, translating policy commitments into practical interventions. Guided by the Children’s Act 2005 and the National Child Protection Strategy, the country has aligned its national frameworks with international and regional instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Mrs Fatty also cited key achievements, including the establishment of community child protection structures across regions; the expansion of birth registration services, ensuring more children have access to legal identity; the integration of child protection into broader social protection programmes, including cash transfers and safety nets; and intensified efforts to combat child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) through legislation, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with civil society and community leaders.
The Ministry also underscored its focus on protecting children in migration contexts, working with ECOWAS and neighbouring states to strengthen cross-border child protection mechanisms against trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. Further initiatives include assessments on corporal punishment, development of alternative care systems for children without parental care, and capacity-building for frontline workers such as social workers, police, and community volunteers.
Despite these achievements, officials acknowledged persistent challenges, including resource constraints, coordination gaps, and the need to strengthen child protection data systems. The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating these gains and charting a clear path towards sustainable child protection reforms.
In closing, the Committee expressed appreciation to its partners, including UNICEF–The Gambia, the End Child Marriage and End FGM coalitions, ISRA, and the Ministries of Health, Basic and Secondary Education, and Justice, as well as the Gambia Immigration Department, for their continued support and collaboration.
“Together, we must reaffirm our resolve to build a protective environment where every child in The Gambia can grow up in safety, dignity, and hope,” the statement concluded.
