The Directorate General for Judicial and Social Protection (DGPJS) continues its commitment to child protection in Senegal. Meeting in Saint-Louis, the institution organized a workshop to share and consolidate best practices for those involved in the judicial and social protection of minors. This initiative aims to harmonize professional practices and improve the care provided to children who are victims, at risk, or in conflict with the law.

This meeting is part of the implementation of the new guidelines of the Ministry of Justice regarding child protection.

Magistrates, social service managers, administrative authorities and local actors are mobilized around a common objective: to strengthen intervention tools in order to ensure better protection of minors throughout the national territory.

Present at the workshop, Moustapha Diop, head of the Reintegration Fund Service and in charge of partnerships at the DGPJS, emphasized the central role of the organization in supporting vulnerable children. "The Directorate General of Judicial and Social Protection is responsible for implementing state policies regarding the protection, care, and reintegration of child victims, witnesses, and those in conflict with the law, as well as young adults under 21 who are at risk," he explained.

Following the meetings in Kaolack and Thiès, the DGPJS is continuing this process of consolidating standards in Saint-Louis. Discussions are focusing on service projects for the eleven departments within the directorate general, harmonized intervention tools, specifications, the audit guide for judicial and social protection inspections, and the guide relating to international adoption.

Beyond providing support to minors, the DGPJS also monitors and oversees public and private institutions that house children. This mission is essential to guarantee respect for children's rights and prevent abuse or situations of vulnerability.

The workshop brought together the presidents of the juvenile courts within the jurisdiction of the Saint-Louis Court of Appeal, as well as the administrative authorities involved in the departmental child protection committees.

According to Moustapha Diop, each stakeholder must play their full role in the national child protection strategy. "Our role is to adequately equip all our services in order to qualitatively improve the services dedicated to children," he stressed.

Through this approach, the DGPJS aims to build a more coherent and effective protection system, capable of meeting the challenges related to the care of vulnerable minors. This is a major issue in a context where child protection remains a national priority.