By: Fatou Krubally
The Child Protection Alliance (CPA) has expressed strong concern over reports that children were involved in a protest at the Bakoteh dumpsite yesterday.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, CPA described the act as “deeply troubling” and “unacceptable,” warning that exposing children to such hazardous environments poses serious risks to their health and safety.
According to the alliance, while citizens have the right to express frustration and demand better living conditions, involving minors in demonstrations particularly in a toxic and unsafe area like the Bakoteh dumpsite is a violation of child protection laws and community values.
“The dumpsite is filled with toxic fumes, sharp waste, and heavy machinery that pose immediate dangers to life and health,” the statement read. “No child should ever be near such risks, let alone placed at the frontline of a protest.”
CPA called on the Department of Social Welfare and other relevant child protection authorities to urgently investigate the matter and ensure such incidents do not happen again.
The organization further urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to act responsibly and safeguard children from being used to advance any cause that puts their safety in jeopardy.
“Children belong in safe spaces, not in protests or dumpsites,” CPA stressed, adding that advocacy for better living conditions must never come at the expense of children’s well-being.
The protest, led by a youth group known as Gambia First, drew attention to the long-standing environmental and health hazards posed by the Bakoteh dumpsite. However, CPA’s statement has sparked renewed debate about the boundaries between civic activism and child protection.
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By: Fatou Krubally The Child Protection Alliance (CPA) has expressed strong concern over reports that children were involved in a…
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