State
House, Banjul, January 9, 2020 –Eleven months into operations, the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) paid a courtesy call on President Adama Barrow
at the State House, on Wednesday. President Barrow expressed delight at the
meeting with the Commissioners, and said he had been following their activities
through publications. He further
encouraged them to work towards nurturing human rights and rule of law in our
emerging democracy with neutrality.
The Commission briefed the President on its
activities and the progress they have registered so far, including setting up a
secretariat. With a broad mandate of promoting and protecting human rights in
The Gambia, the Commission has already made several investigations into cases
brought before it. The NHRC also held meetings countrywide, to raise awareness
on its work as an independent national institution. Its other activities included monitoring of
human rights situations in the country, networking and collaborating with the
UN and other institutions in Africa and outside.
Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Joof
explained the purpose of their meeting with the Head of State. “It is more of a courtesy call on the
President, to talk about what we have done, and what are some of the challenges
we faced and how to improve things,” he said after an audience with the
President, which he described as “a good one.”
Established as a permanent human rights
institution through an Act of the National Assembly, the body relies on
government funding to execute its mandate. With twenty-six (26) staff strength,
they work in partnership with government in promoting and protecting human
rights in the country.
