By: Nyima Sillah
The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and stakeholders Tuesday gathered at the Metzy Hotel, Kotu to proffer solutions to challenges facing detainees and inmates in other to give way to speedy access to quality justice.
Speaking at the daylong forum, Chairperson NHRC, Emmanuel Daniel Joof, said: “access to justice is indeed a human right that is why the national human commission deemed it important to hold the conference in other to discuss with the relevant stakeholders on the issues.
“One cannot have any meaningful discussion on the topic without involving the judiciary, national agency for legal aid, the Gambia bar association, prison service, police and the relevant CSO’s. The national human right commission therefore believe after this meeting we will be in a better position to issue advisory note to the government on enhancing speedy access to justice after engaging all the stakeholders,” he added.
“The NHRC’s strategic plan 2021-2025 identifies assistance in ensuring equitable access to justice in the Gambia as part of its strategic objectives,” he said, while added that access to justices is a human rights and an integral element of the rule of law and well-functioning democracy.
Meanwhile, Counsel Ya Amie Touray of Gambia Bar Association said The Gambia Bar Association is pleased to be a partner and would continue to collaborate with the National Human Right Commission and other organization to ensure that access to justice is continue to be a rights that is respected, and protected within the jurisdiction of The Gambia.
Justice Awa Bah, Supreme Court Judge also said: “speedy access to justice is a key factor in justice dispensation system. We appreciate the fact that justice must not only be accessible but accessible to all.”
“The judiciary also has that in mind by trying to decentralize the whole justice delivery system though we are present in the regions but not in all the regions so expansion is part of our strategy plans so that justice can be accessible to all,” she said.