"Child abuse and exploitation: legal response and support for victims." This is the theme of a training workshop that opened Monday in Tambacounda.

The workshop is organised by the Directorate General for Judicial and Social Protection of the Ministry of Justice.

This meeting brings together the actors of judicial and social protection under the jurisdiction of the Courts of Appeal of Kaolack (Kaolack, Kaffrine and Fatick), Tambacounda (Tambacounda and Kédougou) and Ziguinchor (Ziguinchor, Kolda and Sédhiou).

This activity is part of the project "Strengthening the rule of law and transparency to promote social cohesion". It aims to better equip professionals with information on new forms of violence affecting children.

The Directorate General for Judicial and Social Protection, in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is counting on these actors to reverse the trend of abuse suffered by children.

Moustapha Diop, in charge of partnerships at the Directorate General of Judicial and Social Protection, stated: "The objective of this training is to ensure that these staff members are sufficiently equipped to provide the required safety for any child placed under their care, but also to demonstrate professionalism and responsibility in interactions with children as well as with other users who frequent their service."

According to him, this activity is part of the work plan that the Directorate General for Judicial and Social Protection is developing with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. "Two weeks ago in Dakar, we brought together all the heads of regional services, directors of our centers, and inspectors from the six jurisdictions of the Courts of Appeal to train them on issues related to combating child abuse and sexual exploitation, and especially on safeguarding measures."

If we are to believe the actors, these safeguarding measures refer to the individual and collective responsibility of all agents who are in contact with children.

It should be recalled that a reporting tool called "Rapid Protection" was tested in the departments of Pikine, Guédiawaye and Rufisque.

It should be noted that it was the prefect of the department of Tambacounda, Alioune Badara Mbengue, who presided over the opening ceremony of the workshop on Monday, which will end on December 24.