By Assan Bah
As part of its mandate to monitor the implementation process of the defunct Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission (TRRC) Report and the government White Paper, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) commenced a two-day popularization workshop at the Brikama Area Council (BAC).
The workshop brought together members of the commission, local councilors, and representatives from the Ministry of Justice.
Mrs Aminata LB Ceesay, a Senior Investigator at NHRC, said the Commission is mandated by both the TRRC and the Gambia government to monitor the implementation of the TRRC report.
“The Commission has taken a series of activities geared towards popularizing the TRRC’s recommendations and the government White Paper. Also, it creates awareness among local communities and enables people to understand more about the content of the report and the White Paper,” she added.
According to Mrs Ceesay, the commission has done this kind of activity in other regions such as the Central River Region (CRR), Upper River Region (URR), and North Bank Region (NBR) respectively. She added that they are now in the West Coast Region (WCR).
The Commission targets local communities, Village Development Committees (VDCs) Alkalos, women groups, persons living with disabilities, and members of the Security Sector.
She said one of the main objectives of this engagement is to popularize the TRRC report, increase the understanding of the local government authorities, and prepare them for their roles in the implementation of the government White Paper as grassroots Leaders.
Ms SaffiatouNyang, a State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, said the Ministry of Justice is the coordinating Ministry when it comes to the implementation of the TRRC recommendations.
Nyang who presented on the role of the Junglers (hit squad) on the human rights violations that they meted on victims of the former regime, said “government has already put in place the necessary legal frameworks for the implementation of the TRRC report. The government has also accepted the recommendation that the NHRC serve as a monitoring entity to the government for the implementation of the report.
