By Yunus S Saliu
Memorialization as explained is a profound act of remembering and honoring individuals, events, and experiences that have shaped people’s lives and communities. This was expressed on behalf of the Minister of Justice the Solicitor General of the Gambia yesterday by Ma’am Awa Gai at the opening of a weeklong training for members of the Steering Committee and the Technical Committee on implementing a coordinated victim-centered memorialization strategy organized by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC).
The training session is currently held at the Senegambia Beach Hotel, Kololi.
Addressing the members on behalf of the Hon Minister, Awa Gai noted that memorialization serves as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future, ensuring that the legacies of those who have come before us are never forgotten.
“In our diverse society, memorials play a crucial role in acknowledging the collective memories of our people. They stand as testaments to our shared history, both joyous and sorrowful, reminding us of the strength and resilience inherent in humanity. Through memorialization, we offer a space for reflection, healing, and learning, fostering a deeper understanding of our cultural and historical heritage,” she added.
The training, according to her, is important training to the Government of The Gambia, and was described as timely and will leave participants better equipped with the critical national duty that lays ahead on this component of the country’s transitional justice agenda – “the development of our national memorialization strategy.”
Ma’am Gai disclosed that in a diverse society, memorials play a crucial role in acknowledging the collective memories of people, saying it they stand as testaments to shared history, both joyous and sorrowful, reminding people of the strength and resilience inherent in humanity. “Through memorialization, we offer a space for reflection, healing, and learning, fostering a deeper understanding of our cultural and historical heritage,” she admitted.
However, honoring the memories of those who have left an indelible mark on people’s lives, “we not only pay tribute to their contributions but also inspire future generations to build a more compassionate and equitable world,” she said while adding that “Memorialization invites us to reflect on our journeys, to cherish the moments that define us, and to reaffirm our commitment to preserving the values and lessons that sustain our communities.”
In embracing the practice of memorialization, there is a need to ensure that the stories of people’s past continue to resonate, guiding them toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
With this, she reiterated the dedication of the Government of The Gambia in the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), including those around memorialization.
Giving the history of the TRRC, she said it was established by the Government of The Gambia in December 2017 through an Act of the National Assembly, with a mandate to investigate human rights violations that occurred between July 1994 and January 2017. The Commission was given broad powers to gather evidence, hear testimony from witnesses and victims, and recommend measures to address the legacy of past abuses. The TRRC was also mandated to promote reconciliation and healing and recommend reparations for victims and their families.
Moving on, she noted that in November 2021, the TRRC submitted its final report to the Government, including recommendations to ensure accountability, promote reconciliation and healing, and provide reparations for victims and their families. The recommendations include institutional reforms to strengthen the rule of law, enhance human rights protections, and ensure that state security agencies are accountable to the public.
So far, she said, the government of The Gambia has committed in its White Paper on the TRRC recommendations to implement 263 of the 265 TRRC recommendations, and in May 2023, developed an Implementation Plan to guide the process. Both the White Paper and its Implementation Plan recognize the significance of memorialization in our transitional justice objectives, noting its potential significant contributions towards the bigger picture- stronger social cohesion and national reconciliation in The Gambia and across its regions.
On behalf of the Hon. Minister of Justice, and the Solicitor General, Ma’am Gai thanked the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and in particular, the National Centre for Arts and Culture for its leadership, as Chair of the Steering Committee on Memorialization. She also thanked the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience for the strong collaboration on the design and now, delivery of this comprehensive training on developing and implementing a national memorialization strategy for The Gambia. In an extension, she acknowledged the UNDP, OHCHR, and the UN Peacebuilding Funds for providing logistical and financial support for the training.
Ma’am Gegê Leme Joseph, Senior Program Manager for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean for International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) who works directly with their networks and members in The Gambia thanked the Ministry of Justice, UNDP, OHCHR for supporting the training and also the technical committee.
She congratulated The Gambia on the progress made so far in addressing victims’, and survivors’ needs and making Never Again an everyday commitment while commending the committees for their commitment to developing and implementing an inclusive, victim-centered memorialization strategy for the Gambia.
She expressed that this is a unique experience, and “it can be a blueprint for many other countries to follow. We are delighted to continue a partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Gambia civil society as you embark on this mission together.”
She gave a comprehensive background of the ICSC saying it is a global network of historic sites, museums, and museums that champion memory, truth, and justice through capacity building, networking opportunities, and grants.
The professional trainers for this weeklong training included Gegê Leme Joseph, Devon Gulbraudsen, and Cate Turner from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC).