Kololi, The Gambia — The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) concluded its 83rd Ordinary Session on 22nd May 2025 with a powerful call for justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent. Held under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparation”, the session brought together government officials, civil society leaders, and international partners to confront historical and ongoing injustices, urging unified efforts to advance human rights across the continent. More in the report.

Basse, Upper River Region — “We are dying without justice,” echoed one voice among many as victims of Yahya Jammeh’s brutal regime gathered under a mango tree in Manneh Kunda. Years after the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) concluded its work, survivors are still waiting—some in pain, others already gone—while the government drags its feet on promised reparations. More in the report.

In a decisive effort to advance disability rights and strengthen national accountability mechanisms, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with UNICEF, concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop for the National Disability Advisory Council (NDAC) at the Senegambia Beach Hotel on 15th May 2025.

More in the report.

Bijilo, The Gambia – 8th May 2025 – At a key side event during the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), human rights leaders and civil society actors issued a strong call for bolstering early warning systems, emphasising that timely, credible data is essential to preventing rights violations across Africa. More in the report.

“Workplaces must be safe for all.” With this powerful message, the NHRC convened a workshop with the government, partners and the private sector to adopt its Generic Sexual Harassment Policy for the Workplace. The landmark event took place on 7th May 2025 at the Senegambia Beach Hotel. More in the report.

Childbirth is meant to be a life-giving process, but for many African women, it has become a source of trauma. A recent side event during the 83rd ACHPR session spotlighted obstetric violence, urging states to adopt comprehensive legal and policy reforms. More in the report.

Despite constitutional guarantees of peaceful assembly, The Gambia’s Public Order Act continues to be wielded against activists, with the recent arrest of members of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) highlighting ongoing tensions between civil liberties and state control. More in the report.

At the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in The Gambia, panellists underscored the urgent need to prevent torture and ill-treatment across Africa, emphasizing strategic frameworks, country-level initiatives, and the vital role of civil society in combating such abuses. More in the publication.

Gambian authorities clashed with activists on 8th May 2025, as police arrested several demonstrators who were protesting the government's handling of former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets. The protesters, who gathered near the Arch in Banjul, demanded greater transparency in the sale of Jammeh’s assets, which many citizens believe undermines the country’s transition to justice and accountability. More in this publication.

In a strong call for accountability and redress, human rights advocates, civil society organizations, and policymakers gathered in The Gambia for the NGO Forum on Reparative Justice, spotlighting the urgent need to address the enduring legacy of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism across Africa and its diaspora. More in the report.

In 2023, The Gambia ranked 5th in Africa and 46th globally, positioned between the United States and South Korea. However, this year, the country has fallen to 11th place, marking a setback for the ambitious goal set by the new Information Minister to make The Gambia the top-ranked country in Africa for press freedom. Achieving this target will require strong political will and critical legal reforms to surpass Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other African nations. More on this in the full report.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) officially opened its 83rd Ordinary Session on May 2, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, The Gambia. Centred on the theme of justice and reparations, the session brings together human rights defenders, government officials, and stakeholders from across Africa to tackle pressing issues such as accountability, human rights violations, and pathways toward reparative justice. The three-week event will shape critical decisions aimed at protecting and advancing human and peoples’ rights across the continent. More in the report.

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, African movements have issued an urgent call to action as civic space crumbles under the popular leadership of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso. A joint statement signed by 18 movements and activists has condemned “kidnappings” under the regime and urged the international community to intervene, as journalists and dissenting voices are being rounded up. More is detailed in this revealing press release, which highlights how opposing voices are being forced to face jihadists in the Sahel.

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 religious communities persecuted under former President Yahya Jammeh have called for greater societal tolerance and reform, speaking on the sidelines of a national seminar focused on religious freedom and minority rights in The Gambia. More in the report.

In a historic move to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in The Gambia, the All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) has launched the Male Champions for Gender Justice platform, bringing together influential Muslim and Christian leaders to advocate for gender equality and challenge harmful cultural norms. More in the news report.

In a landmark effort to preserve the memory of victims of human rights violations committed during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh, the Solo Sandeng Foundation on 14th April 2025 inaugurated the Solo Sandeng Memorial Centre, located in Kerr Sering. More in the publication.

The Chairperson of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations issued a press release in disagreement with statements by the leader of the Gambia Moral Congress, Mai Fatty, labelling the prosecution of former President Jammeh as “unwise.” More in the statement.

Michael Sang Correa, once a member of The Gambia’s feared Junglers, appeared almost unrecognisable as he walked into a U.S. courtroom on 7th April 2025 for the opening of his landmark torture trial. Dressed in a suit, with dreadlocks and a streaked beard, Correa remained largely emotionless as victims recounted harrowing stories of abuse allegedly committed under his custody. More in the article.