By Mustapha Jallow
John Charles Njie, the ex-chairman of TANGO, has asserted that Gambian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will struggle to hold current and future governments to accountable unless they work together and maintain nonpartisanship.
“It is always good for CSOs to continue our role in holding government accountable, following key accountability tools that will support our democracy. But until Gambian CSOs work together as one or become nonpartisan, we are going to have a problem in holding this government and subsequent governments accountable,” Njie remarked.
Njie made this strong statement during the review and validation of CSOs’ report, expected to be submitted to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) that emerged from the 2005 UN reform process.
Organized by TANGO with funding from Freedom House through USAID, the day-long review brought together CSO actors, TANGO leaders, UN agency representatives, and other human rights advocates.
According to Freedom House officials, this is the fourth time TANGO has submitted a report to the UPR, supporting CSOs under their organization to participate in the process and submit to the UPR as part of advocacy on human rights issues in The Gambia.
“Once we lose our credibility, even this report we are about to submit will not be respected. It would not hold water,” Njie warned CSO members.
He appealed to members to work together, describing the road ahead as a “great challenge”.
Njie also advised non-NGO members to register with TANGO, expressing his desire to see organizations like Gambia Participates and Beakanyang become official members of TANGO.
“All those who are not official TANGO members, please subscribe and become members so that we can have a stronger voice to speak. I urge all of us to support the leadership of TANGO,” he said.
While declaring the event open, Ndey Sireng Bakurin, the executive director of TANGO, emphasized the importance of submitting impartial and fair shadow reports backed by evidence that accurately represents the human rights status in The Gambia.
“Knowing that we are still in our transitional justice period, the UPR presents an opportunity to take stock of our reform progress based on the last recommendations and how many of those recommendations have been implemented,” Bakurin stated.
She added that the UPR serves as a significant platform for promoting human rights, fostering dialogue, and encouraging states to fulfill their obligations under international human rights law, embodying the principles of universality, impartiality, and non-selectivity in addressing human rights issues globally.
Bakurin highlighted the vital role CSOs and other advocates play in the UPR process by advocating, raising awareness, and holding governments accountable.
“As CSOs, we often highlight marginalized voices, draw attention to underreported and unreported violations, and suggest strong recommendations for action,” Bakurin concluded.
