One thing that all human beings have in common, is the experience of childhood.  Individuals that have many bad experiences as a child, will be greater urged to avoid them and seek favourable circumstances as an adult even if it means ignoring the poor and the needy.  It is for this case of failing individuals that civil society needs to develop a strong voice.

Both government, national and international organisations have done a lot to create the enabling environment for children in The Gambia.

Firstly, the National Assembly members of The Gambia have enacted and ratified the Children’s Act, 2005 and international laws like Unicef’s recommendations on the promotion and protection of children’s rights, which creates the enabling environment for children to learn and live happily.

Secondly, children also have access to basic education through the education for all (EFA) campaign and the free education programme for girls, all geared towards meeting the Millenium Development Goals by 2015.

On HIV/Aids, a special Secretariat has been set up which is called the National Aids Secretariat (NAS), to embark on the task of preventing the spread of HIV/Aids and children’s sensitisation on HIV/Aids.  To support this, other Hiv/Aids advocacy associations and organisations has been established across the country, among them, is the Nova-Scotia Gambia Association (NSGA), which has established peer health educators clubs in schools, to sensitise children on the dangers of HIV/Aids and its preventive measures.

Fourtly, civil society also deserves credit for its collective responsibility towards orphans.  Many orphans have been accepted into new families and are working towards building a new life. Besides the above, many orphanage projects and centres have now been established in The Gambia, among them is the newly built orphanage centre in Sinchu Alhagie village, Western Region, Beakanyang Kafo Orphanage project in Wuli Barrow kunda in the Upper River Region, among others.

Despite all these good work, there are still some challenges that needs to be addressed.  For example, child abuse and exploitation is prohibited in the Children’s Act, 2005, but yet still civil society is practising it, especially at the Tourism Development Area, where there is this issue of child sex tourism, among others.

On education, the issue of mass promotion has made some students feel lazy to study at home or do assignments because they already have the concept that whether they pass the exams or not, they will be promoted to the next grade.  This will make students to be less competitiive in class and eventually it will bring down the standard of the schools in general.

Since we were all once children, we know how much they need help since they are so dependent on adults. If they are not helped, they will grow up to become vulnerable adults, incapable of contributing towards the development of our country and they will also be incapable of helping future generations of children just like they were ignored in the past. The cycle repeats itself and the great efforts of the present will prove to be in vain.  Indeed children’s rights are truly the responsibility of civil society and we should act now.