By Yunus S Saliu
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), in conjunction with partners namely Fantanka, Our Nation, Peace Ambassadors – The Gambia, and Think Young Women, on Monday, commenced a weeklong nationwide caravan and campaign in the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region and to the other regions across the country.
The weeklong campaign was meant for sensitization and advocacy on the TRRC report and government white paper and to empower Gambian youths to voice out their demands to duty bearers on the issues of reconciliation, governance, and peacebuilding.
The initiative was inspired by recommendations from peer-to-peer training on international frameworks and domestic policies involving youth and local authorities and from the round table discussions that ICTJ and partners had with youth and stakeholders across the five regions of The Gambia.
Highlighting the aims of the campaign, Sailou Jallow, the Program Assistance at ICTJ The Gambia stated that it is meant to advocate for the implementation of the TRRC recommendations and the white paper of the government as well as objectives of the Transitional Justice (TJ) process which is vital for shaping a vibrant future for The Gambia.
He noted that people, particularly those in rural areas, women, and differently-abled persons, face a significant risk of exclusion from these discussions, this undermined inclusivity in governance processes and the TJ principle of inclusivity.
“Therefore, it is crucial to enhance understanding of the importance of implementing the government white paper and to emphasize the need for full implementation of the TRRC recommendations as a cornerstone of peace-building and sustainable development in The Gambia,” he noted.
In this context, he continued that, ICTJ and the implementing partners, with funding from the UNPBF, embarked on this nationwide caravan activity started from the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region and will go across the five regions of The Gambia.
“This initiative aims to foster education and engagement with Gambian society at large, also the caravan will provide an inclusive platform to help people understand and be informed about the nature of the Transitional Justice Processes and the TRRC White Paper. This effort seeks to reach remote areas within The Gambia, where there is limited access to information, advocacy for implementation of the TRRC recommendations, and promoting of peace-building and sustainable development throughout the country,” he added.
However, the preliminary campaign started on Sunday, 7th July 2024 in the Greater Banjul Area, while, on Monday, 8th July the campaign caravan reached Westfield, Serekunda, BrikamaGarage catchment areas.
Moving as per the itinerary, on Tuesday the caravan will cross to the North Bank Region passing Barra, Essau, and Fass, and on Wednesday will be the turn of Kerewan, Farafenni, and other catchment areas in the North Bank Region.
Thursday, Central River Region (North), Wassu, Kuntaur will welcome the caravan and later move to URR on Friday and from there to the Central River Region, Lower River Region, and finally to the West Coast Region on 15th and 16th July.