Ousman Sonko, the secretary of state for Interior, has said The Gambia, like many other countries, is faced with challenges in its attempts to combat child abuse in all its forms and therefore called for partnership to combat it.

Delivering his keynote statement at the opening of a day-long 2008 Children’s Bantaba organised by the Voice of the Young, a child wing of the Child Protection Alliance (CPA), at the KMC Chambers, SoS Sonko expressed the need for strenuous efforts by all stakeholders in making The Gambia safe for all children.

“The creation of a protective and child-friendly environment for children will have to start from home which is the primary sanctuary and heaven for any child. Parents, guardians and care givers in general should bear in mind that their action or inaction will contribute greatly towards what happens to their children when they go out to a community,” he told the children gathering on the theme Creating a protective environment for children in The Gambia: Strength and challenges.

Sonko pointed to the evidence of The Gambia government’s commitment under the dynamic leadership of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, to the fulfillment of the rights of children and ensuring that they are protected from abuse and exploitation.

He stated that at the Gambia Police Force (GPF), the government has created a Child Welfare Unit to deal with cases relating to children and had identified police child welfare officers in all major police stations country-wide.

However, he expressed his department’s concern with the surge in child abuse cases recently. “My department of state has noted with concern the increasing number of reported cases of child abuse in the newspapers, in particular rape and defilement of children by adults in position of power, trust and responsibility over the children,” he noted, while advising children to always bear in mind that rights come with responsibilities.

“The responsibilities you owe to your parents, adults in authority, community, country and the international community must be fulfilled,” the Interior SoS emphasised.

Lt Abdoulie Manneh of the CPA Board, challenged parents to discipline children in order to acquire skills and to behave well in society. Lt Manneh assured stakeholders that they will ensure that child exploiters are brought before the law.

For his part, Modou Secka, the president of the Voice of the Young, said the forum will no doubt create a platform for children to discuss key issues confronting them in their daily lives. The 2008 Bantaba attracted a least 150 participants from various parts of the country.