By Bubacarr Gaye
The Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and The American Bar Association last week conducted training for policymakers on the Victims and Protection Policy at a local Hotel. This policy paper proposes the establishment of a comprehensive National Victim and Witness Protection Program to address this need and align The Gambia’s justice system with international standards. The proposed National Victim and Witness Protection Policy would include the following core components: legal and policy framework, institutional capacity, protection measures, access to services, community engagement and monitoring and evaluation.
In her keynote statements, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical) of the Ministry of Interior, Ms Mbayang Njie, underscored the essential of implementing this policy in maintaining the rule of law and ensuring trust and confidence in the country’s criminal justice system. She noted that the policy will therefore come into play by protecting the lives of victims and witnesses, their privacy, integrity, reputation, physical and psychological well-being, providing special consideration and support for survivors of sexual violence to avoid re-traumatization.
“This training will enhance the capacity of you the participants as stakeholders involved in prosecutions and at the time in the advocacy to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the TRRC recommendations and the successful prosecution of perpetrators,” DPS Njie highlighted. Conclusively, Ms Njie reaffirmed that the Ministry of Interior is ready to partner with all relevant organizations to implement this pivotal policy. She equally added that the Ministry also expect continuous commitment to the advocacy for the implementation of the policy.
