We are pleased to unveil the official logo of the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ).
Our logo bears the name of Edward Francis Small in whose honour the organization is named. We are inspired by the great work and legacy of EF Small which we wish to continue. Small was a human rights activist, a journalist, a trade unionist and a pro-democracy advocate who defended the civil liberties of our people. He stood up against the colonial system and demanded that Gambians have the right to be represented in decision making institutions. His slogan ‘No taxation without representation’ is as immutable and relevant today as when it was said in 1920.
Our motto is ‘Freedom, Equality, Transparency and Accountability’.
We believe that as a Republic, The Gambia belongs to all her people in whom sovereign power resides and, in whose name, power is exercised by all the three arms of Government. The people have civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution and other ratified regional and international legal instruments.
We hold that human rights are inherent or inalienable, and the State has the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil these rights. For human rights to be meaningful, there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public affairs and public resources by the institutions and officials mandated by law to perform those functions.
The “leaves” around the logo depict peace and unity.
We believe that the Gambia is one nation whose peace and unity are derived from and are strengthened by the diversities of her people, in their cultures, religions, beliefs, languages, ethnicities, and other forms of differences. Each of these differences is an asset that we must harness for peace, progress and prosperity as enshrined in the national motto.
The ‘community’ in the centre depicts our citizens. We seek to build and strengthen an active citizenry who are willing and able to demand their citizenship rights and perform their duties as enshrined in the Constitution, actively participate in national affairs, respect the rights of each other, and hold duty bearers accountable. Ultimately, we hold that the building of democracy and strengthening of good governance which will produce sustainable development rests squarely in the hands of an informed, organized and empowered citizenry.
The “Circle”, comprising the active citizenry, is our society. We recognize that for The Gambia to be a democratic republic, anchored on good governance, the rule of law, due process, accountability and transparency, every citizen must play his or her role adequately, conscientiously and with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism, discrimination and injustice.
We consider the blue colour in the logo to represent freedom and protection, while the yellow colour represents rights and justice. The overall white background depicts peace and stability.
By our logo, we reflect and demonstrate our vision and mission for the Gambia which we are determined to fulfill. We are also willing and ready to be held accountable for the work we set out to do.
In the Spirit of Edward Francis Small, For The Gambia Our Homeland.
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Madi Jobarteh