By Tabora Bojang
Vice president Ousainu Darboe reiterated Thursday that President Barrow’s government would remain steadfast to the advancement and promotion of human rights to transform the country into a hub for good governance and functioning democracy.
The VP made the promise as he presided over the launch of a study report on migration, including a 6-year country strategy paper dubbed Building Resilience for Social Justice, (Bres) developed by ActionAid The Gambia and partners.
The report focuses on young people in The Gambia who have been leaving the country in their thousands in recent years, through life-threatening sea journeys to seek what they called “greener pastures” in Europe.
VP Darboe told stakeholders that his government is committed to eradicating poverty and improving welfare of Gambian citizens through efficient policies and the creation of enabling environment for the involvement and participation of all development players to ensure goal and achievement.
He said: “Through partnership and effective collaboration with relevant partners, the government is on right track in the successful implementation and realisation of the NDP with the sole aim of making The Gambia a better place with respect for human dignity, rule of law and democracy.”
He said of the developers of the report: “ActionAid since inception directs its attention and programmes towards achieving poverty eradication, social justice and gender equality in The Gambia.
“Every Gambian looks forward to ActionAid consolidating the gains made in the realisation of human rights in the country during the implementation of the fifth strategy paper,” the VP added.
ActionAid and The Gambia government have a decade’s long-standing relationship, and the VP paid “special tribute” to their “tireless efforts” in maintaining sound partnership with the government in alleviating poverty.
According to him, the report contains critical findings, which will have far reaching consequences on the country’s national development progress. He assured of his government’s support towards the implementation of the recommendations of the report.
The executive director of ActionAid Gambia Omar Badjie, said his organisation would continue working with all development players in empowering people living in poverty.
“It is our fervent belief that the New Gambia will provide opportunities to the youth population, which will serve as a beacon of hope for everyone. We anticipate the government will put in place systems, policies, laws and programmes to ensure every individual understand and enjoy human rights,” Badjie said.
