By Nelson Manneh
Four countries including Mexico, Romania, Sierra Leone, and Colombia have recommended Gambia to address caste and descent-based discrimination at the 48th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Session.
“We witnessed a historic moment for the fight against DWD also known as caste/descent-based discrimination, as it gained much-needed recognition on the global platform of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR),” stated the working group of UPR.
The Gambia reviewed the situation of caste and descent-based discrimination at the 48th working Group session of The Universal Periodic Review. It was Gambia’s 4th Circle. For the first time, caste and descent-based discrimination was mentioned at UNHRC /(UPR).
In the last UPR session, there was no mention of this critical issue.
During the event, Spain and the UK submitted advance questions to Gambia regarding caste and descent-based discrimination while Colombia emphasized implementing measures outlined in the ACHPR resolution on promoting and protecting the rights of CDWD.
In its opening remark, The Gambia expressed its commitment to enforcing the findings of the NHRC study on caste and descent-based discrimination in the country.
