Gambia

The Gambia does not currently have a permanent standing national mechanism for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRF). Instead, it relies on an ad hoc interministerial task force approach led by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare. This mechanism coordinates the preparation of reports to international human rights mechanisms and engages with stakeholders through inclusive consultations.

INSTITUTIONAL SETUP

Structure and Composition:

Ad hoc interministerial task forces are coordinated primarily by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, depending on the human rights mechanism involved. Participating entities include but are not limited to::

• The Ministry of Justice (which often leads the process),
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
• The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare,
• The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education,
• The Ministry of Health,
• The National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP),
• The National Legal Aid Agency (NALA),
• The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS),
• And other line ministries depending on the subject matter of the report.

Focal points from these institutions are not formally appointed, and their participation is generally based on institutional nomination or delegation by senior management. In most cases, their involvement is not part of their official job description, although some civil servants are designated as technical leads on human rights-related matters within their respective ministries.

The composition of the ad hoc committee may vary depending on the specific human rights mechanism or treaty body being engaged with (e.g., UPR, treaty bodies, or special procedures), to ensure relevance and expertise.

Working Methods:

In the absence of a formal National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF), the Gambia follows a coordinated, ad hoc inter-agency process led primarily by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) or the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, depending on the human rights mechanism involved.

MANDATE

The ad hoc mechanism covers:

• Reporting to UN Treaty Bodies and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
• Responding to communications from Special Procedures
• Following up and implementing recommendations
• Contributing to legislative changes

The Gambia engages with Treaty Bodies, UPR, and Special Procedures, although challenges remain in timely submission due to the ad hoc nature of the mechanism.

Process for the preparation of state reports

The process generally begins with the Permanent Mission of the Gambia in Geneva, which conducts a mapping of pending or overdue reports and communicates timelines and relevant documentation (e.g. Lists of Issues, Concluding Observations) to the competent ministry.

A sub-committee is then established at the Ministry of Justice to:

• Review the List of Issues or Recommendations received,

• Identify the relevant ministries, departments, or agencies responsible for specific issues, and

• Circulate the relevant sections to those institutions with a set deadline to provide written inputs.

These entities typically include various line ministries, statutory bodies such as the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), the National Legal Aid Agency (NALA), and the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, among others.

The responses received are compiled and used to draft the report. In some instances, the drafting is done in-house, while at other times it is facilitated by an external consultant. Once the initial draft is compiled, it is shared with all relevant institutions for their review and to allow them to submit further comments or corrections.

Following this feedback, the report undergoes a second review, and is then transmitted to the Permanent Mission in Geneva for further technical input and review.

Subsequently, the report is presented at a national validation meeting, typically involving all contributing institutions, before being formally submitted to the relevant UN human rights mechanism (e.g., Treaty Body, UPR, or Special Procedure mandate-holder). The concerned Ministers would have already briefed Cabinet at an earlier stage of the process to ensure political buy-in and coordination.

This multi-layered process ensures broad ownership, institutional accuracy, and validation. However, given the reliance on ad hoc arrangements, challenges remain with timely submission, and efforts are ongoing to strengthen coordination and institutional memory.

COORDINATION

Coordination by the ad hoc interministerial task forces under the Ministry of Justice's leadership is held with various line ministries, statutory bodies such as the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), the National Legal Aid Agency (NALA), and the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, among others.

Channel of communication with the Parliament

While The Gambia does not have a formal National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF), channels of communication with the National Assembly do exist, particularly during the reporting and follow-up phases of engagement with international human rights mechanisms.

When preparing State reports—whether to Treaty Bodies, the UPR, or Special Procedures—the Ministry of Justice, as the lead coordinating entity, may invite relevant parliamentary committees (such as the Human Rights and Constitutional Matters Committee) to participate in validation meetings or provide written inputs, especially where legislative measures or reforms are addressed in the recommendations.

In terms of follow-up, once recommendations from human rights mechanisms are received, relevant ministries brief Cabinet and may engage with Parliament to initiate or support necessary legal or policy reforms. For instance, when recommendations call for the amendment or adoption of laws, parliamentary engagement becomes essential to ensure alignment with international obligations.

Although this engagement is not yet systematic or institutionalized, efforts are often made to ensure that the National Assembly is informed and included, particularly during the validation of reports and in discussions on the implementation of specific recommendations that require legislative action.

Strengthening structured communication between the executive and the legislature remains an area for further development, especially to enhance accountability, sustainability, and national ownership of human rights commitments.

Channel of communication with the Judiciary

There is an informal but functional channel of communication with the Judiciary, particularly when reports to international human rights mechanisms involve issues related to access to justice, judicial independence, legal reforms, or court procedures.

During the preparation of reports or replies to Treaty Bodies, the UPR, or Special Procedures, the Ministry of Justice—as the coordinating institution—may consult with the Judiciary through the Office of the Chief Justice or relevant court officials. In some cases, judicial input is sought in writing, especially where recommendations pertain to: The application of human rights standards in courts, The status of legal aid and access to remedies, or Reforms of laws or practices affecting the administration of justice. Additionally, members of the Judiciary have participated in validation meetings of draft State reports, where they contribute perspectives on the implementation of relevant judicial reforms or capacity gaps. While the Judiciary does not have a direct role in drafting reports, its views are typically reflected through its collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and through contributions from the Judicial Training Institute or the Attorney General’s Chambers where applicable

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office

The Gambia Bureau of Statistics is involved in meetings and can take part in delegations sent to Geneva for the interactive dialogues with treaty bodies.

CONSULTATION

During the preparation of State reports to international human rights mechanisms, the Government of The Gambia regularly convenes consultations with key non-governmental stakeholders, despite the absence of a formal National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF).

Civil society organizations (CSOs), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Ombudsman’s Office are consistently invited to participate in the drafting and validation processes. These stakeholders are typically engaged through:

• In-person consultations organized by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Gender, depending on the thematic focus of the report;
• Participation in technical and validation meetings, where they review and provide input on the draft reports before finalization;
• Sector-specific invitations, especially when the report addresses areas directly related to the mandates of particular organizations (e.g., women’s rights, children’s rights, or anti-corruption).

Although mechanisms like town halls, online consultations, or digital feedback tools are not yet systematically used, the Government ensures that CSOs and national institutions are meaningfully engaged through direct invitations and inclusive dialogue.

This engagement has helped ensure that reports reflect the realities on the ground and incorporate independent perspectives on implementation progress and remaining challenges.

The Gambia had a National Human Rights Action Plan (2021–2025). However, there is no dedicated tracking tool or Standing Operating Procedures for implementation.

Permanent Mission in Geneva