The Ministry of Interior through joint intervention work conducted by the Immigration Department, the Police Child Welfare and the Department of Social Welfare that children are found on the streets without parental care, some are being brought to The Gambia to be engaged in domestic work from neighbouring countries and in the same vein, Gambian children are also seen in the street working as street vendors without any parental care or guardians during the summer vacation.

A media release issued Thursday stated that this is against the Children’s Act 2005 Section 41 (1) which states that a person shall not engage a child in exploitation labour and the Constitution of The Gambia 1997 section 20 (2) which states that no person shall be required to perform forced labour.

“Parents and guardians are strongly warned to desist from such acts as it’s not in the best interest of the children. The Ministry of the Interior will continue to work with all partners in the area of child protection to ensure that all measures are in place for the protection of children found on the streets without parental care. Children under such situation are at high risk of being violated,” it stated.

The Interior Ministry further urged the general public, parents and guardians to take their parental responsibilities towards their children, to protect the children in their communities and to report any such cases to the nearest police station for intervention. “The general public is further informed that the Department of Social Welfare and other partners will continue its public awareness and sensitisation programmes,” the release concluded.