Human Trafficking in [Gambia] [other countries]Street Children in [Gambia Child Prostitution in [Gambia] [other countries] |
Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children Republic of The Gambia [ Country-by-Country
Reports ] The |
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CAUTION: The following links and accompanying
text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in The
Gambia. Some of these links may lead
to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even
false. No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to
verify their content. Quick Search for Missing Children
- Select Gender, Country ( UNICEF - The Big Picture U.S.
Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs INCIDENCE
AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - In urban areas, children are commonly found working as street
vendors or taxi and bus assistants. The number of street children is
growing and has led to increased instances of children begging. Consequently, their vulnerability to
exploitation has been exacerbated. Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 SECTION 6
WORKER RIGHTS – [d]
The statutory minimum age for employment is 14 years; however, child labor
was a problem. There was no effective compulsory education, and because of
limited secondary school openings, most children completed formal education
by the age of 14 and then began work. Child labor protection does not extend
to youth performing customary chores on family farms or engaged in petty
trading. In rural areas most children assisted their families in farming and
housework. In urban areas many children worked as street vendors or taxi and
bus assistants. There were a few instances of children begging on the street. Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2001 [54]. The Committee notes the
efforts of the State party to improve the situation of education in the country,
including the recent launching of the Third Education Sector Programme. Nevertheless, the Committee expresses concern
that primary education is not free in practice, which further limits access
to education, especially for girls, children from economically disadvantaged
families and those living in remote rural communities. Concern is also
expressed regarding low enrolment and high drop-out and repetition rates,
insufficient numbers of trained teachers, an insufficient number of schools
and classrooms, lack of relevant learning material, and geographical
disparity in enrolment rates and access to education [58]. The Committee expresses
grave concern at the high and increasing number of street children. In
particular, the Committee notes their limited access to health, education and
other social services as well as their vulnerability to police brutality,
sexual abuse and exploitation and economic exploitation. Reports to Treaty
Bodies - Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Concern was expressed about: the
fact that primary education is not free in practice; low enrolment and high
drop-out and repetition rates, insufficient numbers of trained teachers, an
insufficient number of schools and classrooms, the lack of relevant learning
material, and the geographical disparity in enrolment rates and access to
education; the high rate of illiteracy, especially among girls; the quality
of education; the inadequate standards, procedures and policies to guarantee
and protect the rights of refugee, asylum-seeking and unaccompanied children;
the high and increasing number of street children and child beggars, their
limited access to health, education and other social services as well as
their vulnerability to police brutality, sexual abuse and exploitation and
economic exploitation; the large number of children engaged in labor and the
lack of information and adequate data on the situation of child labor and
economic exploitation; the absence of a legal minimum age for employment; the
large and increasing number of child victims of commercial sexual
exploitation, including for prostitution and pornography, especially among
child laborers and street children; the insufficient programs for the
physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims
of such abuse and exploitation. Information
about Street Children [DOC] The common factor among street
children in the Committee On Rights Of Child Concludes Review Of Gambia's Report On Implementation Of The Convention RESPONSE OF GAMBIA - Many street children were boys from neighboring countries like Senegal, Guinea and Mali who come to the country under the guise of studying under Islamic tutors -- the marabouts. The majority of such children were Gambians. These street children were usually between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Due to pressure from their masters, some of them engaged in begging and stealing. The Government has found that mobile schools were effective with street children, particularly those who had dropped out of regular schools. Poverty Drives Children To
The Streets There was a phenomenon of dumping
children in the All material used herein
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Human Trafficking in [Gambia] [other countries]Street Children in [Gambia Child Prostitution in [Gambia] [other countries]