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related incidents, most probably because perpetrators, aware of Government’s efforts to decongest the prisons, have leveraged on this

policy to act with impunity. Finally, Mr. Jallow noted that officers have been overstretched in their duties, particularly around the border

areas and at a significant expense to the Ministry’s budget. Many other planned activities for the year shall, as a result, be canceled or

postponed till next year.

D. Independence of National Human Rights Commission

Mr. Badjie from ActionAid noted the important mandate of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in The Gambia’s

governance structure, emphasized its independence being central to its ability to carry out its mandate and sought support from the

Ministry of Justice to ensure said. In response, Mr. Marenah noted that the NHRC currently enjoys both operational and legal

independence. Appointments, removals, and the overall security of tenure of its Commissioners are for example, guaranteed in law

through similar provisions as judges. In terms of its funding, much of which is needed for outreach and decentralization of its operations,

the Solicitor General noted that the Office of the President has approved for the Commission’s creation as a separate budget entity, a

process that has commenced at the Ministry of Finance and which, when completed, would provide the Commission with greater financial

autonomy.

E. Violence against women

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