By Awa DK Conteh
The Minister of Information Lamin Jammeh has said that it is the Ministry of Justice and the government’s hope that promoting rights and justice will help solidify and accelerate democratic transition in The Gambia.
Mr Jammeh made this remark in an interview after he presided over the launching of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), funded programme ‘Promoting Rights and Justice’ (PRJ), organised by the US embassy in Banjul.
Launched on Friday, May 27th at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, the initiative is a human rights support mechanism programme co-implemented by Freedom House and the ABA ROLI. The five-year programme will assist in laying important support to the justice sector, government institutions, and civil society.
Further in his remarks the Information Minister said The Gambia pursues several transitional processes, including the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). “The justice sector has a key role to play in enabling the state to ensure accountability and adopt measures to prevent the occurrence of the abuse of power by government actors.”.
He said the project will not only help Gambia achieve effective administration of justice but also enhance professionalism in media work relating to human rights and justice.
He noted the importance of having professionalised media entities that will engage in ethical reporting.
The Minister reminded that The Gambia is emerging from two decades of brutal dictatorship and is currently navigating a delicate transition. He expressed government’s commitment to inculcate a culture of human rights.
The US Ambassador Sharon L Cromer said the launch of the programme is a clear demonstration of the strength of the partnership between the US government, the people of America and the government and people of The Gambia.
She assured of United States Government’s will to partner with The Gambia to safeguard against such abuses as revealed by the TRRC, in the future. “We commend the issuance of the white paper that outlines the government’s decision to accept nearly every TRRC recommendation and adopt a victim-centered approach,” she remarked.