In a landmark development for The Gambia’s justice system, the judiciary has inaugurated the Special Criminal Division of the High Court at Mile 7 in Bakau, a move widely hailed as a pivotal step in advancing the nation’s long running transitional justice process.

More in the news report.

The Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hosted its annual validation workshop on the 2025 State of Human Rights Report today, 9th March 2026. Attended by various stakeholders from civil society organisations, law enforcement officers, and others, Solicitor General Mr Hussein Thomasi’s statement was not delivered because he failed to attend.

More in the report.

The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has announced that they will be submitting their much-anticipated TRRC Final Report and Recommendations (Final Report) to President Adama Barrow on Thursday, 25th November 2021.

More in the news report first published in 2021.

After a parliamentary inquiry in September 2025 compelled the Minister for Justice to disclose how much funds have been disbursed to the Victims Reparations Commission, the Ministry issued this press release on the matter.

In the statement, the Ministry revealed that it has disbursed D22.8 million out of the D30 million allocated to the Victims Reparations Commission for 2025.

More in the press release.

Three women have been charged in connection with the death of a one-month-old baby girl following female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in The Gambia. Police Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh confirmed the charges during a National Human Rights Commission training on the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, revealing that one accused faces life imprisonment while two others have been granted bail. More in the report.

Haunted by memories of the brutal 2005 massacre of over 50 West African migrants in The Gambia, relatives of the victims returned to Banjul 20 years later to demand justice, the exhumation and return of their loved ones’ remains, and an increase in compensation to $1 million per victim.

Marking two decades since the killings, the delegation submitted a petition to Gambian authorities, calling for concrete action to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh and to fully implement the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s recommendations.

More in the report.

The Gambia is set to establish a dedicated court for gender-based violence (GBV) cases, a move announced by the Minister for Gender, Women, and Children’s Welfare, Hon. Fatou Kinteh, during a workshop organized by the All-Africa Church Conference in April 2025. More in the report.

At a pivotal seminar held in Bijilo from 14th to 15th April 2025, WAVE Gambia and ACEPA rallied Gambians to unite for the protection of religious minorities. This two-day event called for government action to turn the promises of the TRRC into a reality, aiming for a future where religious freedom is a cornerstone of The Gambia's peace and stability. More in the report.

Representatives from Kerr Mott Ali, currently exiled in Senegal, recently met with Vice President Muhammed BS Jallow and the Minister for Justice, Hon. Dawda Jallow, to advocate for their return home, as dictated by a High Court ruling in their favour. More in the report.

The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, launched a three-day workshop in Bakau on 25th February 2025, aimed at improving reporting under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). The event highlighted The Gambia's ongoing efforts to align its domestic policies with international human rights standards, particularly in relation to migrant workers' rights. More in the report.

As Gambians await a new Constitution, with strong opposition from opposition party leaders and several civil society organisations, Justice Minister Hon. Dawda A. Jallow has pledged to defend the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament. More in the report from the first Mansakunda Townhall of 2025.

The Justice Minister, Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, tabled the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament for its First Reading on Monday, 23rd December 2024. More in the report.

Despite various human rights defenders giving the government credit for implementing only 16 out of the 262 recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the Chairperson of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations (AVLO), Ms. Sirra Ndow, has expressed the victim’s dissatisfaction with the “slow pace” of progress. More in the publication.

The Gambia’s Victim Center welcomes the ECOWAS Authority’s decision to establish a Special Tribunal in The Gambia that will prosecute persons deemed to have committed gross human rights violations in the country. More in the statement.

At the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 15 December 2024, a landmark decision was made to establish the Special Tribunal for The Gambia. More in the press release from the Ministry of Justice.

The 2024 Draft Constitution will no longer hold it’s second reading in December 2024 according to Parliament’s Revised Agenda. Meanwhile, in another related matter, International IDEA’s Dr Chambas has flown into town to hold “Constitution Talks” with various stakeholders after disagreements on the level of stakeholder consultations resulting in the promulgation of the 2024 Draft Constitution. More in the report.

After the Fifth Legislature shockingly rejected the 2020 Draft Constitution in September 2020, Justice Minister, Hon Dawda Jallow is scheduled to table the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament in November 2024.

Gambian Stakeholders reviewed the country's 4th Universal Periodic Review Report on Human Rights on 28th September 2024 ahead of the country's submission scheduled for October 2024.

The Minister of Justice revealed that a Constitution should be in place in 2025 after our reporters questioned him on the President's promise for a referendum on the Draft Constitution in December 2024.

The Minister of Justice, Hon Dawda A Jallow released a statement on 28th August 2024 on the government's decision to gazette the 2024 Draft Constitution. The statement outlines the consultation that the Minister of Justice claims was undertaken prior to the gazette.