By Sariba Manneh
International Centre for Transitional Justice in partnership with the United Nations Peace Building Fund with its local partners has started a nationwide caravan for the implementation of the recommendations of Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission recommendations.
The outreach event is aimed at holding dialogue with community leaders on youth participation in transitional justice, governance, reconciliation and peacebuilding.
The caravan which is expected to last for ten (10) days will be delivered through road match throughout the five Regions (WCR, NBR, LRR, CRR, and URR) of The Gambia by ICTJ and its implementing partners.
Sellou Jallow, program assistant at ICTJ, said the average Gambian youth faces significant barriers to meaningful engagement in decision-making sphere. These barriers, he said, include limited access to information about their civic and political rights processes, and avenues for participation, as well as challenges related to gender inequality and societal norms. In May 2022, the government issued a White Paper, as an official response to the TRRC’s final report and its recommendations.
“This document outlines the government’s commitment to implementing the TRRC’s recommendations, indicating specific actions to be taken in pursuit of justice, reparation, institutional reform and reconciliation. The Government recognizes the importance of addressing the legacy of past abuses to build a democratic, just and peaceful society,” he said.
He added that the white paper details a multi-faceted approach that includes prosecuting perpetrators, implementing measures to prevent SGBV, justice, and accountability, banning officials from holding office, reforming the security and judicial sectors, and providing transformative reparations to victims.
“To inform the White Paper, the government undertook a consultation process to gather the views and opinions of civil society actors and victims on the TRRC recommendations. However, the meaningful participation of young people, especially those in rural Gambia, is low, and only a few were previewed in the TRRC Report and the government Whitepaper. Thus, in light of these forgoing circumstances, ICTJ and Partners will hold a nationwide caravan/campaign aimed at sensitization and advocacy on the TRRC report & Government White Paper as well as to empower Gambian youths to voice their demands to duty bearers on issues of reconciliation, governance and peacebuilding,” he added.
Jallow said they have received different perspectives and recommendations from the audience.
“They are calling on the government to ensure that they respect the white paper because the paper is right now a contract between them, the people and the state,” he said.
Hawa Sonko, a vegetable vendor at the Tanji market, called on the government to help tackle the issue of kush which is currently killing youths.
Speaking in Brufut, Sheriff Banora said commodities are too expensive.
“There is too much hardship and we are suffering,” he said.
