[{"bbox": [133, 152, 1135, 285], "category": "List-item", "text": "investigate administrative complaints of injustice, corruption, abuse of power, maladministration, mismanagement, discrimination, and unfair treatment of public officials in the exercise of official duties. It also recommends reforms in the administrative procedures, practices, and policies. Since September 2008, the Office of the Ombudsman continues to be decentralised with regional offices in Basse (URR), Mansakonko (LRR) and Kerewan (NBR)."}, {"bbox": [97, 313, 1135, 498], "category": "List-item", "text": "* **The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):** The NHRC seeks to boost human rights standards in The Gambia and to nurture a culture of respect for rights and freedoms guaranteed by the rule of law. This is done through capacity building and awareness creation of law enforcement, civil society organisations (CSOs) and communities using various outreach and advocacy channels. The NHRC has been established to promote and protect human rights of all persons, which includes human rights defenders in The Gambia. The Commission's protective mandate includes the power to monitor, receive and investigate any human rights violation in the Gambia."}, {"bbox": [97, 527, 1135, 662], "category": "List-item", "text": "* **Civil Society Organisations** (with specific focus on those advancing a human rights-based approach to transitional justice/post-TRRC). This Action envisages to partner with the several CSOs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), see Annex 1 for detailed mandates, still under the decree 81 with strong registration procedures. Special attention will be given to women led organisations CSOs and media supporting participation and accountability."}, {"bbox": [97, 689, 1135, 797], "category": "List-item", "text": "* **Media:** in 2021, the Access to information Bill is enacted and the law provides for the right to access public records and information held by public authorities or by individual and legal persons providing services for them. It's a step towards to the freedom of expression. In this context, media also plays an important role to support transparency and accountability of institutions and participation of rights holders."}, {"bbox": [97, 842, 1114, 895], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Building on transitional justice gains to significantly strengthen rule of law, promote reconciliation, and instil a culture of human rights"}, {"bbox": [97, 921, 1135, 1214], "category": "Text", "text": "The TRRC was mandated to establish an impartial historical record of human rights violations committed between 1994 and 2016, grant interim reparations to victims and promote national reconciliation. In 2018, Gambia ratified the Convention against torture and the Convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance. During its tenure, the TRRC has achieved international recognition for its ground-breaking achievements in the history of truth commissions, especially for the level of collaboration between the Commission and perpetrators – many of whom voluntarily came forward to confess atrocities – and for the level of public interest generated by the live streamed public hearings and outreach activities. In addition to public hearings of 393 witnesses, including 222 victims and 80 alleged or confessed perpetrators, the TRRC has engaged over 50,000 Gambians at home and in the diaspora in community-led outreach activities. A perception survey conducted in 2020 showed that 90% of Gambians felt that the TRRC was performing well or very well and believed that the implementation of the Commission's recommendations would enhance rule of law, justice, peace, and reconciliation."}, {"bbox": [97, 1239, 1135, 1454], "category": "Text", "text": "However, the TRRC process has not always been smooth. Whilst the Commission has received extensive support from donors such as the EU and the UN Peacebuilding Fund and has been internationally recognized for adopting a participatory and accessible process, its revelations have increased tensions between its supporters, the victim community and perceived or confessed perpetrators, as well as the political party of ex-President Jammeh (APRC). Since the instalment of the new Government, victims of human rights abuses have been demanding reparations, through investigations into specific incidents and violations, particularly enforced disappearances, and persecution. The Government, in response, has repeatedly asked for the patience and cooperation of victims and the public, for the TRRC to complete its investigations and present its findings and recommendations."}, {"bbox": [97, 1479, 1135, 1639], "category": "Text", "text": "On 25 November 2021, the TRRC submitted its final report to President Barrow. It comprises 17 volumes reporting on atrocities and other human rights violations committed during former President Jammeh's regime including unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, inhuman and degrading treatment, \"witch hunting,\" fake HIV/AIDS treatment, and general and widespread abuse of public office. The report contains 427 findings and 218 recommendations, organized under 8 headings, including \"prosecution of persons who bear the greatest responsibility for human rights violations and abuses,\" \"further investigation of"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 8 of 31"}]