The Gambia Advances Transitional Justice to Help Achieve Sustainable Peace
11 April?2023?
Despite facing significant political and social challenges, The Gambia has undergone a process of democratic transition, with a new government committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. As part of this transition, the country is engaging in transitional justice to address past human rights abuses and promote healing.
Caption:?The PBF has invested $30.9 million across 16 initiatives since 2017 in the Gambia.
The 51勛圖 has supported The Gambia＊s prioritization of transitional justice by utilizing complementary approaches, including the Secretary-General＊s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), and the Partnership Facility in the Peacebuilding Support Office.?
The PBF has invested $30.9 million across 16 initiatives since 2017 in the Gambia. As an early supporter of the transition, the PBF quickly financed security sector reform and transitional justice actions. Through this support, UNDP and OHCHR?worked together to assist the government in establishing credible transitional justice processes.
Responding to the Gambians＊ national priorities for justice, the support by the UN laid the foundation for establishing two major institutions: The National Human Rights Commission and the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). The TRRC was founded in 2018 to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of human rights violations that occurred in the country between 1994-2017, provide interim reparations to victims, recommend prosecution, and promote national reconciliation.
After years of intensive investigation, the TRRC released its long-awaited report, "Never Again," in December 2021, containing 265 recommendations that pave the way for justice, healing, and reconciliation. These recommendations go beyond just compensations and prosecutions, focusing on preventing future atrocities as well. The report marks a significant breakthrough in the Gambia＊s journey towards healing and reconciliation.
Following the release of the TRRC report, the PBF supported the government in developing its White Paper on the TRRC recommendations by enabling a series of nationwide engagements with diverse stakeholders, including women and youth. In May 2022, the White Paper was published, marking an additional milestone in the country＊s journey towards transitional justice. The document officially confirmed the government＊s acceptance of 263 out of the 265 TRRC recommendations, setting the stage for designing a time-bound and budgeted implementation plan to advance the process further. The implementation plan is currently being finalized by the government, and it will require technical, financial, and political support from national, regional and international stakeholders.
Caption:?Responding to the Gambians＊ national priorities for justice, the support by the UN laid the foundation for establishing two major institutions.
Working in synergy with the PBF's on-the-ground support, the Peacebuilding Commission has provided essential political accompaniment for the new reform agenda since 2017. Last October, the PBC convened a meeting on the Government＊s White Paper on the TRRC recommendations. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, a civil society representative and senior UN officials provided an update on the priority areas and related actions on the implementation of the TRRC recommendations.
The PBC commended The Gambia＊s remarkable progress in transitional justice, while underscoring the need to implement the TRRC recommendations as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable and inclusive peace, development, and stability. Key priority initiatives and support needs were addressed, including the need to establish?a Peace and Reconciliation Commission and providing support to the victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Members of the PBC underlined the imperative to reinforce capacity-building and strengthen national institutions to support the TRRC recommendations, including in the security sector, legislative and economic reforms. They committed to sustaining international support for the country＊s peacebuilding priorities.
Furthermore, to support the government address the root causes of fragility and conflict and ensure a sustainable political transition after 22 years of authoritarian rule, the World Bank has approved a Turn Around Allocation (TAA). Under the TAA, the Government has identified five strategic objectives, including security and political stability, governance and transitional justice, land management, environment and climate change, human capital development and inclusive growth and economic stability. The UN and the Bank have agreed to work together and support the Government to achieve these objectives. The Partnership Facility is supporting the design and implementation of a joint UN-World Bank mechanism to facilitate UN support to the Government＊s implementation of its TAA, with a focus on the first three strategic objectives. This joint mechanism will also facilitate information and data sharing between the UN and the Bank on the Government＊s annual performance in achieving key milestones under these strategic objectives.