Thirteen-year-old Aida Jarju of Longman Memorial Methodist School lit up the stage at the 2025 National Spelling Bee, claiming the coveted title after a fiercely competitive final held in Brikama. Organised by the Take M Transformative Organisation, the event brought together 41 top young spellers from across The Gambia—but it was Aida’s poise, precision, and perseverance that ultimately set her apart and crowned her this year’s champion. 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.

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois, has been elected as the 267th pontiff, following the death of Pope Francis on 21st April 2025. Prevost’s election marks the first time an American has ascended to the papacy. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, signalling a new era in the Church’s global leadership. 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.

The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) has launched a three-day enterprise development training program for 50 young members of the Methodist Church in The Gambia. The initiative aims to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and promote self-reliance. More in the publication.

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.