The Government of The Gambia on Saturday joined the international community to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Speaking at the commemoration, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Honourable Fatou Kinteh, said Gambian girls are “powerful, capable, and indispensable assets and potential drivers” of the country’s sustainable development.
Minister Kinteh praised the courage and leadership shown by girls in both urban and rural communities, but warned that harmful traditional practices, gender-based violence and early marriage remain persistent threats.
She described these practices not only as human rights violations but as obstacles to the Sustainable Development Goals and The Gambia’s Children’s Act of 2005.
Outlining government action, the Minister said a coordinated cross-sectoral approach is being implemented across ministries.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is expanding access to quality education through safe school policies and digital learning programmes. The Ministry of Health has scaled up adolescent-friendly services, reproductive health education and a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is building mentorship networks and safe spaces to promote leadership and entrepreneurship among young women, while the Ministry of Justice is pursuing legislative reforms to protect girls from exploitation.
The Ministry of Finance, she said, is mainstreaming gender-responsive budgeting to ensure national investments address girls’ needs. The Ministry of Information and Digital Economy is advancing digital literacy and safe online spaces, while the Ministry of Local Government is strengthening child protection networks in rural and border communities.
The Ministry of Gender itself is working with UNICEF and partners to develop a comprehensive Adolescent Strategy and, with the World Food Programme, is providing entrepreneurship training and startup capital to over 200 girls.
Minister Kinteh commended UNICEF, UNFPA, ChildFund, SOS Children’s Villages, civil society organisations and community leaders for their partnership, but stressed that lasting change must begin at home.
She called on parents to prioritise education over early marriage, urged traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful norms, and asked educators to foster safe, inclusive schools and policymakers to enforce child protection laws.
In a direct message to girls, she said: “Your voices matter, your education matters, and your human rights are absolute and non-negotiable. As your government, we stand firmly with you.”
The commemoration ended with a renewed national pledge that no girl in The Gambia will be left behind. Empowering girls, the Minister said, is “a sacred obligation and a national promise.”