On November 20th, SOS Children’s Villages in Bakoteh hosted the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Unicef, Child Fund, and other partners to mark International Children’s Day 2022.
In 1954 United Nations established Universal Children’s Day with a date of 20th November yearly. The UN General Assembly prescribed all countries to come up with a day for children at a suitable date of their choice to promote awareness about children’s rights, and togetherness and improve children’s welfare. On November 20, 1959, United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on 20 November 1989 UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The anniversary of both these Declaration and Convention is also marked by the UN on 20th November 1990.
The United Nations provides a particular theme every year for World Children’s Day to promote awareness among children, togetherness, and improve children’s welfare. The theme for this year’s celebration is “A Better Future for Every Child”. This theme urges the public to advocate, celebrate and promote children’s rights to secure the future of every child.
In her opening statement, the chairperson of the event Ms. Fatou Jaiteh an SOS Children’s Villages participant highlighted the importance of this day calling on duty bearers to do more for the protection of all children.
In his welcoming remarks, Jean – Pierre Kouamin, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in The Gambia took the opportunity to thank the National Child Protection Steering Committee which we are part of through the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare for the trust you have in us to host this year’s International Children’s Day. He also gave a brief history of SOS Children’s Villages in The Gambia.
“We continue to speak up for and defend each child’s rights, advocating for policy and practice changes that improve child and family welfare systems on a global, regional and national level”. Jean -Pierre Kouamin.
The Director of Children’s Affairs, Madam Bintou HK Fatty, calls on all stakeholders to protect the rights of children whilst highlighting the plight of children around the world and in The Gambia. She assured the audience of her Directorate’s support and commitment to children and their protection.
In her statement the Honorable Minister, Madam Fatou Kinteh pledged that her Ministry will continue to support the protection of children and young people which remains at the forefront of all planned interventions of the Ministry. “We can do better if er consider children and youths as partners and change agents and not just as beneficiaries. This approach will enhance ownership and sustainability”. Fatou Kinteh Honorable Minister of Gender and Social Welfare. She thanked SOS Children’s Villages for hosting this year’s event which shows their commitment to the children’s welfare.
