By: Isatou Sarr
PASTEF The Gambia has joined national and international partners in commemorating Universal Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20th to promote unity, raise awareness of children’s rights, and strengthen efforts to advance their welfare.
The day set aside in 1954 also marks two landmark UN milestones: the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which The Gambia ratified on 8 August 1990.
In a statement issued in observance of the day, PASTEF The Gambia acknowledged the progress the country has made in improving child protection, noting that the Children’s Act of 2005 remains a key legal safeguard for minors.
The movement reiterated its call for a clear national policy regulating the involvement of children in political activities. It said such a policy is necessary to prevent the use of minors in political mobilization and campaign efforts, and to ensure that all political actors uphold ethical standards that protect children from manipulation or undue exposure, particularly as the 2026 election cycle draws closer.
