Senegal

Background of Senegal

Senegal is a country on the western most point of Africa bordering Mauritania, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. It has a population of approximately 12 million. Compared to many countries in sub-Saharan Africa it is a very politically stable country with its government committed to the furthering of democracy and human rights. The two most recent transfers of power have also been entirely peaceful, meaning there has been no major power conflicts since independence in 1960. There has been one running domestic political difficulty in the Casamance region as a separatist movement has attempted to gain independence from Senegal. This has not developed into a major humanitarian crisis as conflict between the separatists and the government is very sporadic, however the violence has displaced many people into refugee camps in Guinea-Bissau.

Economically as well Senegal has performed well compared to the rest of the region and in the past 15 years it has experienced a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of around 5% each year. The problem that Senegal faces is converting its economic performance into the reduction of poverty. Senegal's people are still very poor with over a third of the population living below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day. One of the major factors in the poverty that exists in Senegal is the overcrowding of cities. As the economy has grown, more and more people have moved from rural to urban areas looking for work which has led to large level unemployment as the supply of jobs cannot meet the increased demand.

Children in Senegal

In Senegal it is important to make a distinction between children in street situations as defined for other countries and the specific phenomenon of talibe children. Talibe children are usually boys aged between 3 and 4 years old that have been sent by their parents to a Daara for their religious education. They often come from neighbouring countries like Guinea Bissau. At the Daara the Marabout teaches them the Koran  and they receive a practical initiation into community life, and learn both humility and endurance. However, the conditions in which they live are precarious and most of them are forced by the Marabout to go begging on the streets. Without their daily (financial) contribution to the Daara, they become easy victims of ill treatment, and often run away to the streets.

Other issues that are particularly relevant to Senegal are child domestic workers, child migration and trafficking.