NAYCONF resolution calls for Children’s Affairs Dep’t

Delegates from the seven regions, including international delegates, adopted the final resolutions conceived by the young people, at the end of the week long confab - the 2008 biennial National Youth Conference and Festival (Nayconf) held in Farafenni, North Bank Region.

The requirements of these resolutions are expected to be implemented within the next two years. And key among them are recommendations for the central government to establish a department of state for children’s affairs, and the establishment of a children’s national assembly of The Gambia by December 31, 2009, all of this aimed at promoting participation of children in national development issues.

The young people went on to recommend the establishment of a national commission for children, allowing them to coordinate popularisation, monitoring and implementation of the children’s Act 2005, and other international child rights legal instruments.

Omar Cham from western region demanded from the National Youth Council - coordinating body of the affairs of the young people of this country, to incorporate children in the activities of the youth. This, he argued, would help the children to effectively deliver when they take over positions.

At the closing day of the gathering, last Tuesday, Omar Cham read the resolution before the delegates for adoption before finally handing it to Mambajick Njie, the permanent secretary at the department of state for Youths and Sports, at the Farefenni Youth Centre.