NAMs confirm appointment of Human Rights Commissioner

Her appointment was confirmed following the tabling of a report by the Public Appointments Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

Ms Dibba was shortlisted for the job by the ‘Selection Panel’ in accordance with Section 5(1) of the NHRC Act 2017 in June 2021 to fill a vacancy at the National Human Rights Commission.

Tabling the motion, Kebba K. Barrow, majority leader and member for Kombo South, expressed satisfaction of the Committee with the application of Ms Dibba who has attained both experience and academic qualifications required for appointment as a Commissioner to the National Human Rights Commission.

Among her academic qualifications, Ms. Dibba acquired BA in Political Science from the University of Ghana, and LLM International Law from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

She served as Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2010 and 13. Between 2018 and 19, she was a Medical Administrator at Sennelager Medical Centre in Germany.

At the time of her appointment, Ms Dibba was serving as a full-time lecturer in International Relations, International Law, and Human Rights System at the University of The Gambia.

Reacting to the report of the Public Appointments Standing Committee, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dawda Jallow thanked the members for confirming the appointment of Ms. Dibba as Commissioner.

Minister Jallow reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening fundamental democratic principles, especially as it relates to promotion of state institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission.

It could be recalled in 2017, the National Assembly enacted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act with the mandate to promote and protect human rights. One of its core functions of the NHRC is to investigate a violation of any human right, at its own initiative or on a complaint made by any person or a group of persons.