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Gambia Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
Enforced disappearances, torture, attacks on freedom of expression and perceived members of the of lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community, a climate of impunity, and the death penalty are some of the significant human rights concerns in The Gambia.
2014 marked 20 years since President Yahya Jammeh came to power. The authorities continued to repress dissent. The government continued its policy of non-co-operation with UN human rights mechanisms. Successive legislation was passed further restricting freedom of expression and increasing punitive measures against journalists. Human rights defenders and journalists continued to face imprisonment and harassment.
The rights of LGBTI people were further threatened, including the enactment of a law making "aggravated homosexuality" a crime punishable by life imprisonment. In November 2014, eight people were arrested, detained, and tortured as part of a government crackdown on "homosexuality."
The year ended with an attempted coup on 30 December, leading to dozens of arrests and widespread crackdowns on media outlets. In January 2015, at least 30 family members of people alleged to have taken part in the coup attempt were detained without charge or access to their lawyers or families. Some have since been released but many remain in incommunicado as of April 2015. In March 2015, three soldiers were sentenced to death and three to life imprisonment by a secret military court for participation in the attempted coup. The last executions in Gambia were carried out in 2012, when nine prisoners (eight men and one woman) were executed by firing squad.
Relevant Links
Gambia Newsroom
December 11, 2019 • Press Release
Aung San Suu Kyi Denials Must Not Distract From Ongoing Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar
Responding to the statement made by Aung San Suu Kyi at the International Court of Justice in The Hague today, Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International’s Regional Director, said:
June 1, 2016 • Report
Dangerous to Dissent: Human Rights Under Threat in Gambia
Authorities in Gambia must free dozens of political prisoners and end the brutal crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly ahead of elections later this year or face suspension from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Amnesty International said in a new report published today.
June 1, 2016 • Press Release
Gambia: Crackdown and brutal repression in run up to elections
Authorities in Gambia must free dozens of political prisoners and end the brutal crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly ahead of elections later this year or face suspension from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Amnesty International said in a new report published today.
April 18, 2016 • Press Release
Gambia: Investigate Death in Custody, Free Protesters
The suspicious death in custody of opposition political leader Solo Sandeng and the arrest of his party leader, Ousainu Darboe, and other party members in recent days underscore the repressive nature of the Gambia’s government, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and ARTICLE 19 said today.
April 17, 2016 • Press Release
Gambia: Death in detention of key political activist
Authorities in Gambia must immediately investigate the death in detention of a well-known political activist and release all other peaceful protestors who have been detained, Amnesty International said today.
March 9, 2016 • Press Release
Gambia: Free ailing journalist –– Alhagie Ceesay Arbitrarily Detained for 8 Months
Gambia should free an ailing journalist who has been arbitrarily detained since July 2015 and drop all charges against him, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
February 22, 2016 • Press Release
Amnesty International’s Annual State of the World Report Slams Governments, Including the U.S., for Global Assault on Freedoms
On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.
February 18, 2016 • Report
Amnesty International State of the World 2015-2016
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
February 18, 2016 • Press Release
Your rights in jeopardy, global assault on freedoms, warns Amnesty International
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
November 30, 2015 • Press Release
Gambia: Release peaceful protestors and community members arbitrarily detained
Gambian authorities must release peaceful protesters and community members, including a man in his 70s, who were arbitrarily arrested and detained last week, said Amnesty International today.