Following the submission of the final report of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and the White Paper of the said report, the government assigned the NHRC in collaboration with relevant government institutions, the responsibility to provide regular human rights training for security sector officials.
Additionally, the NHRC was tasked with reviewing, updating and integrating human rights components into the curricula of The Gambia Armed Forces and other security institutions.
Besides, the launch was aimed at distributing training modules across security institutions and to reflect on achievements made, address challenges faced by law enforcement agencies with a view to discussing strategies for adopting and integrating the modules into security sector training programs.
At the event, Emmanuel D. Joof, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), emphasised that the newly developed training modules address a critical gap in the current curricula of the country’s security services.
These modules, he said, provide essential guidance in handling gender-sensitive issues while ensuring compliance with international standards.
NHRC chairman disclosed that the pilot phase of those modules, implemented through training workshops, has already shown promising results.
“Security officers from institutions such as the Gambia Armed Forces, Police Force and Prison Service have demonstrated an increased understanding of human rights principles and a stronger commitment to safeguarding them.”
Joof noted that the official launch and distribution of the modules mark a significant step toward ensuring their widespread use and institutional adoption.
Recognizing security forces as key defenders of the rule of law, he indicated that protecting human rights is not merely an option, but a legal obligation rooted in national laws and international treaties to which The Gambia is a signatory.
The training modules, he maintained, aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, emphasising that human rights are not abstract concepts, but actionable principles.
Integrating these principles into daily security operations will strengthen public trust and enhance the protection of human rights across the country.
Ida Persson, Special Adviser to the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice on transitional justice, highlighted the importance of addressing The Gambia’s vulnerabilities, stressing that failure to do so could lead to increased fragility and instability.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to enhancing human security through a comprehensive, long-term security sector reform process, guided by the implementation of the TRRC recommendations.
She commended the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for its continuous support in implementing the TRRC recommendations through capacity-building initiatives and its dedicated monitoring of the entire process.
The adviser further noted that out of the 263 recommendations made by the TRRC, a significant portion focuses on security sector reform. She further stressed that of the 304 activities the government has pledged to implement, at least 169 directly involve stakeholders present at the event, underscoring the magnitude of the task ahead.
