By Sulayman Waan
Emmanuel Daniel Joof, chairman of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has urged the Gambia Police Forces to adhere to the 1997 Constitution.
Mr Joof made this remarks Thursday at the opening of a two-day capacity building training organized for twelve senior police officers.
The ongoing capacity building in Tendaba Camp, Lower River Region is on Code of Conduct for Police Officers and Guideline for Policing Public Assemblies.
“In the exercise of their mandate and discharging their duties, the police are however required to follow due process and also adhere to the provision of Chapter 4 of the 1997 constitution regarding the right of suspects during arrest, detention and trial,” he said.
He said “Unfortunately, many a time, while discharging their duties, the police have fallen short of adhering to the human rights standard. Police officers over a period of 22 years of AFPRC and APRC have been subjected to lots of pressure to act and discharge their functions without following the due process resulting in serious violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of people.”
He expressed that the police as protectors of the law have both legal duty and moral obligation to uphold human right standard as well act strictly in accordance with the law and the spirit of national, regional and international human rights laws, standard frame and obligations.
“It is against this backdrop that the NHRC are organizing this retreat,” he noted.
He said the two documents aim to strengthening police officers understanding and capacity to respect and protect people’s rights, especially, the vulnerable to discrimination citing women, children and minorities.
Chairman Joof noted that these documents are not only important but necessary for the Gambia Police Forces, adding “breaking rules stipulated in a code of conduct will result the offender being held accountable for misconduct.”
He disclosed that the code of conduct is to be owned by the GPF. The NHRC only provides support in developing it (the documents), train the officers on the code of conduct and provide copies for the GPF.
However, he expressed optimism that the police forces will adopt the code of conduct, while noting that his office has issued an advisory note on the right to freedom of association and assembly.
