Countries around the world has signaled that they are paying more attention to Gambia’s two decades of dismal human rights records and governing issues than articulated. This strong message was sent to Gambian authorities when they appeared before the United Nations Period Review on Human Rights and good governance in Geneva Switzerland. The Jammeh government appeared before the world body to defend its numerous Human Rights records and failures in adhering to international treaties and conventions that the country is a signatory or party to as part of the global community of nations.
Though a small nation and mostly an insignificant contributor to global affairs, Gambia remained at the spot light of many countries since the military take over led by Yahya Jammeh two decades ago. Nations across the world expressed their dismay and grave concerns on Gambia’s negative attention around the world due to governing failures and gross human rights violations led by its erratic leader Yahya Jammeh. Country after country, small and large, all expressed their concerns in several areas where the Gambia government has failed to live up to expectations and standard of good governance in many areas. The areas of Human Rights, freedom of expression, gender equality and due process among other areas drew sharp criticism from global nations who are traditionally good friends and major donors to the Gambia.
Despite Jammeh government officials’ attempt in front of the World to deny what is so evident of gross rights violations, arbitrary arrest, detention beyond 72 hours, interference with the judiciary, horrific prison conditions, enforced disappearances among many others, partners around the world were convinced that President Jammeh and his government has seriously undermined the conventional protocols and standards of human decency in the Gambia. Clear signals were sent to Jammeh and his government that the world is in fact paying more attention 0n what goes on in Gambia than the Jammeh government may realize.
Most of the credit of putting Gambia on the spotlight is its persistent citizen activists around the world and robust online media which has kept an eye on the government and documented every rights violation by the government. This scrutiny on the government is denied to local media and political opposition on the ground through intimidation, draconian media laws and threat of arrest and torture by the government. As a result, the government is able to get away with little or no challenge within its borders. However, Gambian dissidents continue to put pressure on the government to live up to modern standards of governing through Democracy and rule of law. It appears the UN Periodic Review has in fact taken lot of stock from what Gambian dissidents and rights groups have been reporting on Gambia. The Jammeh government therefore can no longer get away with lies and denials of evidence of citizen detention, torture and other rights violations…The final report of the Periodic Review will be made available to readers…
More links to reports on the UN periodic review:
http://reliefweb.int/report/gambia/gambia-deteriorating-human-rights-situation
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR27/006/2014/en/34975205-59e1-…