A
delegation of the African Commission of Human People’s Rights that just
concluded a human rights promotion mission to The Gambia has emphasised the
need for a victim-centred transitional justice mechanism.
The
delegation said such a mechanism would facilitate truth, justice, reparations,
healing and reconciliation.
Speaking
at a press conference on Monday, Jamesina Essie L. King, commissioner
responsible for the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights and
chairperson of the Working group on economic, social and cultural rights in
Africa, said such a mechanism should be inclusive, participatory and take into
account the needs of women and children affected.
“The
Commission notes The Gambia’s plans towards the establishment of a national
human right institution for the protection and promotion of human rights, and
efforts to establish transitional justice mechanisms, including a truth and
reconciliation body,” she said.
Commissioner
Reine Alapini Gansou, special rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa,
said efforts to promote reconciliation and provide justice to victims of human
rights violations which took place under the former regime is laudable.
However,
he said in such efforts, the government should incorporate the promotion and
protection of human rights in all its actions as well as in the legal, policy
and institutional reforms and address past and continuing human rights
violations.
The
mission was dispatched to The Gambia from 19 to 24 April 2017. The task of the mission was, among other
things, to promote the African Charter and all other regional and international
human rights instruments that The Gambia has ratified. The mission was also tasked to strengthen
relations between the African Commission and the new government of The Gambia.
The
mission met with government officials including Speaker of the National
Assembly, the Chief Justice, and civil society bodies and NGOs.
It
visited the prisons and detention centres across the country and interacted
with inmates.
It
“notes and appreciates the unequivocal resolve of the government and the people
of The Gambia to promote and protect human and people’s rights, and to reverse
the culture of impunity for human rights violations. “
However,
it urged that government should submit its overdue periodic reports to the
Commission.