By: Sekou Hydara
The West Africa Network for the Protection of Rights of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees (ROA- PRODMAC) capacity training building for members opened at the Kariaba Beach hotel on Wednesday.
Established in September 2014, the network is meant to strengthen refugees, internally displace peoples (IDP) asylum seekers and migrants and the network is partnering with Medico an international German NGO and the it’s also working with Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)
Amadou M’Bow, ROA- PRODMAC Coordinator stated that the forum in The Gambia is meant to sensitize NGOs from across African and globe that are coming to the Pan African Human Rights NGOs forum and also the African Commission on Human and People’s session.
He revealed that members attending the capacity building training are from Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Niger ,Mali, Benin Burkina Faso and others, adding that all the countries has it programme to conduct sensitization with their government.
M’Bow pointed out that the network is in total disagreement with deportation of asylum seekers or migrants because those deported have the rights to freedom of movement, stressing that the West or the European come to Africa and move freely.
He urged African government’s including The Gambia to not accept deportees from the West or Europe, saying that those deportees’ rights to freedom of movement are violated went they are deported.
According to him, before the deportation there are agreements and this is sign by the two countries, adding this should not be accepted by any African government.
He urged that such document need to be submitted to the Parliament for lawmakers to debate on it in the best interest of their citizens, noting that deportees need to be also integrated socially, politically, because they frighten.
M’Bow calls on African government to be transparent by proving social justice, access to education, healthcare, rights to land, peace and security to every citizens and promote democracy, calling on African youth to love their countries because they are the leaders for tomorrow.
