By Assan Bah
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commenced a four-day training for law enforcement officers on human rights, and international humanitarian law to enhance law enforcement officers’ knowledge in upholding human rights and handling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
It seeks to foster respect for human rights in law enforcement officers in a democratic society.
The training, supported by the British High Commission to the Gambia, brought together thirty (30) law enforcement officers from across all the security sectors within the country.
Emmanuel Daniel Joof, the Chairperson of the Commission, said the training is a significant step in the Commission’s collective efforts to strengthen the capacity of security personnel to uphold human rights by fostering respect for the rule of law and ensuring justice for all particularly vulnerable groups and survivors of SGBV.
The training, according to him, is conducted in response to the findings of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission (TRRC) with the subsequent government’s ‘White Paper’. He said to prevent the recurrent of ‘vast’ abuses and to build a more democratic and respectful right-based approach to the work they do, education is key.
“As you may be aware, the findings of the TRRC highlighted serious gaps in the knowledge and appreciation of gender equality, human rights principles, and the rule of law within the security sector. The testimonies and evidence presented during the TRRC hearings underscored the need for urgent reforms in our security services. Security personnel play a vital role and you are the guides of the rule of law. In doing your duty, however, you must uphold the rule of law to protect the rights of citizens. We therefore need to ensure that our law enforcement officers are well versed in human rights principles, international humanitarian law, and gender-sensitive approaches,” Chairperson Joof said. He said it is imperative to foster accountability, strengthen security relationships, and improve public trust in the security institutions of the country.
“The primary objective of this training is to enhance the capacity of the security forces and equip them with the necessary knowledge to effectively integrate human rights and gender-sensitive approaches into their operations. A democratic society strives when its security forces uphold the rule of law and operate within the framework of respect for human rights,” Chairperson Joof said.
In his speech to participants, His Excellency Martin Norman, the Deputy Head of Mission of the UK to the Gambia, lauded the initiative, saying the training reflects their shared commitment to justice, human dignity, and the protection of the most vulnerable in society.
“Gender based-violence transcends borders because it affects women and girls in every part of the world. It strips individuals of their dignity, curtails their potential, and undermines our collective vision of equality and progress,’’ the Deputy UK head of Mission to the Gambia said.
According to him, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, often at the hands of someone they know or trust globally. “Law enforcement officers and justice sector actors play a crucial role in the prevention and addressing of SGBV. With training, collaboration, and commitment, we can build a society where human rights are respected and accountability is not optional,” he said.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Landing Kinteh, the Chief of Staff, said the training is partly follow-ups and rollout modules on International Humanitarian Law and on the handling of Sexual and Gender-based Violence which he said were developed, validated, and distributed for inclusion into the security institution’s training curriculum.
He said testimonies and findings of the TRRC disclosed the existence of gaps in knowledge and appreciation of gender equality, human rights principles, and values within the security sector.
“There is, therefore, the need to enhance this knowledge and instil gender perspectives and a culture of human rights and respect for the rule of law within the provisions of our security apparatus, in order to improve the relationship and public perception within the security forces, strengthen security civil cooperation and prevent the recurrent of gross human rights violation including gender-based violence,” he said.
