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Gambia: Acting-Ombudsman Expresses Support for Human Rights Clubs

RSS Source : The Gambia Journal

The acting Ombudsman, Mr. Junaidi Jallow, has said that the launching of human rights clubs in senior secondary schools would be a significant step in inculcating the concept of human rights in the future generations.

Mr. Jallow made these remarks on Monday at the launching of Human Rights Clubs in Senior Secondary Schools at the Paradise Suites Hotel. "It is essential that the newly established clubs be given freestanding atmosphere to be able to undertake their activities on human rights. And this is the reason behind this office's advocacy for the inclusion of human rights subjects in the school curricula," Mr. Jallow said, whilst adding that this would promote the practice of the issues at the grassroots which, he said, comprise people who deserve to know most. "In the establishment of these clubs the NHRU of the office of the Ombudsman hopes to provide an opportunity to make this country an example of best practice in the effective implementation of various human rights protocols that we, as a country, appended our signature to," he said. Mr. Jallow also described the need to transfer technology to the youth as one of critical importance to our development agenda. He finally thanked the UNDP for sponsoring the meeting.

In his opening statement on behalf of the First Lady, Secretary of State Yankuba Touray said the creation of human rights clubs in secondary schools will play a pivoted role in protecting the rights of children who might have been over looked or treated unfairly, by denying them equal constitutional rights like other citizens.

The acting Solicitor-General, Dr. Henry Carol, said the office of the ombudsman has a pivotal role to play in the promotion and defense of human rights in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow started acting as Ombudsman after the former Ombudsman, Mr. Samuel Sarr, passed away two months ago. The office has since its inception remained quite secluded and is yet to live up to the hopes it kindled when it was included in the 1997 constitution. Like many of the other democratic constructs of the Second Republic, the office of the Ombudsman has remained a toothless bulldog. Its reports are normally like a catalogue of unresolved complaints and queries and total disregard by government and other public institutions.