The United Nations Child Rights Committee (CRC) has expressed deep concerns over the widespread violence and challenges facing children in The Gambia, following its latest review of the country’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
According to the Committee, nearly 90 percent of children in The Gambia have experienced some form of violence, with girls and children with disabilities being particularly vulnerable. The report also raised alarm over the prevalence of sexual exploitation and abuse, both online and in travel and tourism contexts.
The Committee urged the Gambian government to strengthen and enforce child protection laws and establish effective mechanisms for identifying and addressing violence against children. It also recommended the introduction of mandatory reporting systems for child abuse and neglect, with designated focal points in schools, communities, and care institutions.
The Committee further highlighted significant obstacles to universal primary education, including limited preschool access, inadequate infrastructure—particularly gender- and disability-friendly sanitation facilities—and poor educational quality in rural areas. Concerns were also raised about low secondary school completion rates and gaps in religious education provided by Madrassas and Majalis (Qur’anic learning centers).
The report called for improved access to quality education, particularly for girls, children with disabilities, and those in remote areas, as well as the alignment of religious education curricula with national education standards.
Additionally, the Committee emphasized the need to tackle high dropout rates caused by early marriage, pregnancy, child labor, and financial constraints. It recommended measures to support pregnant adolescents and young mothers in continuing their education through re-entry and second-chance programs.
