The UN children’s agency has said it is encouraged by the decision of President Adama Barrow to grant amnesty to two children remanded at the Juvenile Wing of the Jeshwang prison. 

Unicef’s country representative, Sandra Lattouf in a statement on 30th anniversary of African Child Day, said: “I am also encouraged by the decision of the President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, to grant amnesty to two children who were held at the Juvenile Wing of the Jeshwang Prison as part of his general amnesty in the month of Ramadan.”

She said: “And I must commend the Gambia Government for the gains in protecting the rights of children in the country through the enactment of laws, including the Children’s Act, the establishment of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, the Children’s National Assembly of The Gambia, and the setting up of children’s courts in Kanifing, Brikama, Mansakonko and Basse.

“The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 calls for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provision of access to justice for all and building of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

She said The Gambia has ten years to achieve the SDGs, adding “ten years to provide access to justice for all, especially the most vulnerable in society.

“To ensure a child-friendly criminal justice system, UNICEF urges The Gambia government to enforce all the laws that protect children in The Gambia, including from violence, abuse, discrimination, FGM/C, child marriage, and child labour, ensure that every child, everywhere in The Gambia has access to child-friendly justice by expanding the children’s court to cover the entire country, fully implement the Children’s Act to provide children with alternatives to detention and diversion such as community rehabilitation, community service, and counselling.”

The statement added: “Properly coordinate all efforts, including at the community level, to protect children, anywhere in the country, from violence, harm, and abuse, empower children to participate in the national discourse, and have their concerns listened to and addressed by the concerned authorities/stakeholders.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba