A lawmaker has called for tough new legislation that will penalise child sexual exploitation in the Gambia. 

MP for Baddibu Central Sulayman Saho calls for new legislation to replace some of the traditional laws that allow early marriage among young girls. 

“There should be a strong legislation so that the perpetrators and the culprits who are found guilty of child sexual exploitation are severely punishment,” Mr Saho said. 

He called for concerted efforts to combat such activities in the country. 

“It is really a problem which is affecting the Gambia and people need to come together to fight for the children”

Mr Saho said the institutions responsible for protecting children should do more to support lawmakers enact tough legislation against exploitation of minors 

“We want to see the institutions that are directly affected to come up with the [draft] bill and we at the parliament will try to support them to make sure the bills are passed and become a law.”

However, he added that the “implementation is in the hands of the executive to make sure that the laws are enforced.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba