By Mustapha Jarju
The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) of The Gambia has trained 30 people on human rights and elections monitoring.
Speaking at the training NHRC vice chairperson, Jainaba Johm said the training to give more of an insight as of what to look out for on how to do your reporting and to help in the process as you monitor, look out for sign for instability.
According to her, the commission visited the Independent Electoral Commission office and situation that happened there (in Brikama) during Momodou Sabally`s nomination could have been avoided.
Noting that when seeing situations mounting they could adjourn or even differ, and wait to make a pronouncement, while advised that it is not always that one have to follow the law or the rule to the latter because people could die on that day and as it was understand, lots of people were injured.
She therefore informed that election is part of democracy and there cannot be democracy without elections and the right to vote is a constitutional right, “therefore this training will guide The Gambia to follow the international norms as part of the wider community.”
Saikou Gassama, Executive Secretary, described political actors, like the Independent Electoral Commission, play a critical role in this sector, which include civil society organizations and the media.
“Therefore, it is important that these critical actors are train on how to monitor elections. Sometime last year NHRC benefitted from an international training conducted by an expert from OHCHR in which some of our key partners were invited,” he disclosed.
“The training currently conducting, by the end of the training thirty (30) participants will have built their capacity in planning and monitoring right during elections and also will enhance their capacity by exchanging knowledge and best practices in election monitoring. Therefore, it is needed for the government to provide free, fair, transparent and credible elections, election is a fundamental human rights which is enshrined in the 1997 Republican Constitution likewise in the international legal instruments and the international declaration of human right article twenty-five (25) as well as international law on civil and political rights article twenty-one (21),” he added.
Famara Jawneh, Chairperson of the Civil Society Organization said: “as we are heading to another important National Assembly elections on the 9th of April 2022, the CSO`s in The Gambia will continue to play very important role in strengthening our democracy though various interventions such as voter education, election monitoring and observation.”
