Aji Fatou Jammeh
National Association of Early Childhood Educators on Thursday, June 16th joined other African countries to commemorate the Day of the African Child (DAC).The theme of this year’s DAC commemoration was: ‘Eliminating harmful practices affecting children: Progress on policy and practice since 2013’.
Held at the Westfield Monument, Kanifing Municipality, the event was characterised by march-past from Africell to the Monument, led by the police band. Songs were sung, plays were staged and voices were heard.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Children Affairs, Bintou Fatty said the day honours those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 in South Africa, where hundreds of young boys and girls were shot dead. “In the two weeks of protest that followed, more than a hundred people were also killed and thousands were injured,” she added.
According to her, it was the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (The Committee/ACERWC), established in accordance with Articles 32 and 33 of the African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child (the Charter/ACRWC), that selected this theme for the commemoration of the DAC in 2022.
Commenting on the DAC 2022, Madam Fatty said it presents an added opportunity to review the status of harmful practices affecting children in Africa by highlighting the issues that African children are facing in their lives due to the harmful practices and assess where we are toward the protection and assistance of children who are at risk and victims of harmful practices in Africa. “These reviews and assessments aim to inform relevant stakeholders who are working in the area of children’s rights on the continent in order to reinforce their efforts in terms of tangible programmatic actions in addressing the obstacles related to harmful affecting children in Africa,” she stated.
To reduce risk and in preventing child abuse in the country, the Government established shelters to help protect children coming into town in search of work or a living children on the move from additional dangers such as harassment, sexual abuse and even sickness from the cold and unhygienic conditions of sleeping under verandas.
Further highlighting government’s children protection initiative, Madam Jatta mentioned the provision of free basic education, medical care for all, existence of legal and policy framework both national and international levels, existence of National Child Protection Strategy plan and Social Protection implementation plan, the banning of corporal punishment in schools, and an increased awareness through the intergenerational dialogue forums facilitated by children.
Other speakers were Kawsu Jaiteh, representative of Region One Education Directorate, who urged people to share information on harmful practices such as early marriage or FGM/C; Mariama Secka-Darboe, President of the National Association of Early Childhood Educators; and the Director of Research at the National Assembly.
