By Fatoumata Joof
The Minister of Interior, Mr. Seyaka Sonko on Tuesday, 18th October 2022 received in audience the West Africa Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (WARO-OHCHR), Mr. Aye’da Robert KOTCHANI and his team. The purpose of their visit was to brief the Minister on the implemented projects and programmes for the Ministry’s line institutions, as well as discuss ways of complementing the ministry’s agenda in the upcoming years.
During the meeting, the West Africa Regional Representative of WARO-OHCHR, Mr. Aye’da Robert KOTCHANI said the visit would enable his office assess all the programmes and activities implemented in the country for the year 2022.
Mr. Robert said he is impressed with the positive political developments undertaken by the Gambia government in protecting the human rights of its people, and that his office is willing to continue to collaborate with the Gambia Government in addressing human rights matters.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Mr. Seyaka Sonko, welcomed the West Africa Regional Office Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and his delegation, and conveyed his heart felt gratitude to the team for their timely courtesy call on the Ministry.
The Minister informed the delegation that the prison rehabilitation and reform programmes are priority areas for the Ministry, and therefore enlisted the intervention of the WARO- OHCHR in that regard.
He noted that government and partners have done a lot in terms of safeguarding the human rights of the people by improving the prison facilities and establishing technical and vocational training centres in the prison.
He informed that the Ministry is currently working towards building new models of detention facilities at the police stations. The initiative he said will reduce over-crowding in the police stations.
Ms. Mamie Adams of OHCHR- WARO highlighted her office’s achievements in The Gambia, such as capacity building for security and other relevant institutions to combat child trafficking and enhanced child protection and other human rights related matters. She revealed their plan to support juvenile prison facilities, and child protection centres across the country.
