EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Gambia * INTRODUCTION

remain in the protection of children from NATIONAL PLANS OF ACTION There are a number of National Plans of on the protection of children from all forms Action (NPAs) that cover the protection of of CSEC called the National Plan of Action children in The Gambia like the National to Combat Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Action Plan on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (2004 – 2009). [...] The functions of Most of the examples of regional and NAATIP include: receiving and investigating international coordination and cooperation reports of activities of trafficking; cooperating by The Gambia are in relation to human with governments of other states in the trafficking. [...] Article 3(1) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on The Gambia is a common law jurisdiction; the sale of children, child prostitution and however, customary and Sharia law are child pornography (OPSC) obligates States to often engaged to address family law matters criminalise “offering, obtaining, procuring or and issues concerning child rights47. [...] The TOA specifically The Gambia has ratified the OPSC but has legislates for the protection of children not yet incorporated the definition of child from sexual exploitation in tourism and pornography provided in the OPSC into has quite expansive provisions. [...] It The Gambia should expand the Children’s should establish effective mechanisms Courts to more regions and establish the to monitor the movement of child sex Children’s Parliament, provided under the offenders through the establishment of a draft National Plan of Action against the child sex offender registry and with effective Sexual Exploitation of Children of The Gambia collaboration with the.