Having regard to the threat and dangers posed by armed conflicts in our country's drive for peace, stability, economic growth and development within the sub-region and the continent as a whole, members of the National Assembly last Wednesday unanimously ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the involevement of Children in Armed Conflict.

The protocol was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, and entered into force on the 12th February 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland, to increase the protection of children and combat their involvement in armed conflict so as to ensure their full enjoyment of the CRC.

Tabling the convention for ratification before NAMs, Marie Saine-Firdaus, Attorney General and secretary of state for Justice said armed conflicts has had harmful and widespread impact on children and serious consequences on durable peace, security and development globally and within our sub-region in particular.

She noted that, armed groups and state armies have forcefully recruited children to take part in direct hostilities noting that this constitutes a serious violation of the human rights of these children, particularly, their rights to peace, physical integrity, life education, freedom, security and devlopment.

Minimum age

SoS Saine-Firdau added that the protocol sets the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the armed forces to 18 years as provided in the CRC and obligate state parties to submit a written declaration at the time of depositing their instrument of ratification.

Criminalisation of offences

She added that, the protocol also provides that the use of recruitment of children below the age of 18 years to take a direct part in hostilities for whatever reason, either by the state or by armed groups, must be prohibited and criminlised.

Protection of child victims

Here, she noted that the protocol provides that child victims used or recruited for armed conflict must be demobilised or release from service and where necessary, shall be provided with appropriate assistance for their physical and physiological recovery and social reintegration.

International cooperation

The Attorney General and SoS for Justice highlighted that, it also provides for cooperation of state parties in the implementation of the protocol, the prevention of any activity contrary thereto, and the rehabilitation and social integration of person who are victims of acts contrary thereto.

Supporting the ratification, Momodou Touray, NAM for Central Baddibou, called on parents to know that it is their duty to protect the children from such harmful activities.

Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East noted that the protocol was long over-due, adding that it is just a formality for The Gambia to ratify this protocol. This, he said, is for the fact that there is already a childrens' act, trafficking in persons act and certain clauses of protection to children entailed in the constitution.