Gambia: Human Rights Committee Name On Police To not Inflict Inhumane Therapy On Detainees

The Human Rights Committee of the Nationwide Meeting has beneficial for the Gambia Police Pressure (GPF) to desist from inflicting any inhumane and degrading therapy on detainees with instant impact.

This suggestion was made following the committee’s part 1 oversight go to to some main detention Centres inside the Kanifing Municipal Council and the West Coast Area.

As indicated within the report the go to was aimed to boost the understanding of lawmakers with points such because the circumstances of the detention amenities together with the availability of providers, meals and water, variety of individuals per cell within the nation throughout the part 1 of the go to.

The go to was additionally supposed to know the inhabitants inside the detention amenities, class of inmates and detainees, justification of detention, interval of detention, COVID-19 Preventive measures, and authorities’s strategy to reaching effectivity throughout the jail property and entry to training, coaching and different purposeful actions.

Tabling the report earlier than the legislature, Hon. Suwaibou Touray, member for Wuli East Constituency, reported to the meeting that the go to was within the context of making certain the respect for the elemental human rights of the prisoners and detainees, allowing for the historic realities of the Gambia’s jail system.

He mentioned that throughout the go to on the Nationwide Intelligence Company (NIA), they noticed that partitions of the rooms had been coated up by pink paint and nonetheless had stays of what gave the impression to be blood stains and chain hooks.

“The committee members voiced their issues, noting that the modification was undue and maybe amounted to interference of some kind. On the kitchen of the NIA, the committee noticed that the inmates prepare dinner with facilitation from officers. The medical centre nonetheless serves merely as a provision for fundamental medical care and would not have the capability to cope with compound medical circumstances,” he mentioned.

Dwelling on the Juvenile Wing on the Jeshwang Prisons, the committee noticed that the air flow within the cells wanted enchancment because the rooms have been poorly ventilated, and the prevalence of mattress bugs and mosquitoes was a priority for the juveniles that have been in custody.

On the Grownup Wing of the Jeshwang Prisons, he mentioned the committee noticed that the house designated for the administration was fairly restricted.

“On the Kairaba Police Station, with regard to the welfare of the detainees, the committee was knowledgeable about an appropriation of 5 D5.00 for dinner per detainee. The committee additionally noticed that there have been a number of mattresses sacked beside the cell and upon inquiry concerning the goal of the mentioned mattresses, it emerged that they have been utilised by officers engaged in protest administration to comprise the “3 years Jotna” protestors,” he informed the meeting.

Hon. Touray additional informed the meeting that in their go to to the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company, the Director Normal raised concern to the committee that the company is unarmed opposite to plain international follow, and the committee was additional knowledgeable by the DG that the contraband that the company is tasked to fight is one that’s extremely profitable for perpetrators.

“Throughout our go to to the Bundung Police Station, the Commissioner for Police for Kanifing East acknowledged the constraints concerning sanitation because the detainees are liable for the cleanliness of the cells. The Commissioner additionally raised budgetary constraints of the police, which he mentioned hampers the well timed cost of service suppliers such because the catering providers, and the allocation stays D5 per detainee, which is extremely inadequate,” he reported.

The advice made by the Human Rights Committee on the conclusion of its oversight go to to main detention facilities are as thus;

The air flow of police stations be improved to make sure air circulation and improved visibility;

The IGP and Minister of Inside take duty of making certain police cells are clear and hygienic always;

Mosquito nets be positioned on the air flow holes of each detention facility within the Gambia to scale back the inflow of mosquitoes;

The allocation of D5 to police detainees be progressively reviewed with instant impact;

The police pressure, develop and enhance the welfare of kids and ladies below detention;

The police pressure, desist from inflicting any inhumane and degrading therapy on detainees with instant impact;

The Gambia Jail Service develops a brief measure for curbing the overcrowding on the remand wing pending the completion of the brand new jail halls;

The Ministry of Inside and Ministry of Finance create a funds line for the jail’s medical and emergency providers;

Studying and different academic supplies be supplied to the Juvenile Wing;

The Juvenile Wing and prisons be fumigated instantly with the intention to mitigate the infestation of mattress bugs;

Shifting ahead the development of police cells consider, along with enchancment of house, making provision for separate cells for girls and kids;

The transport of prisoners to court docket homes be progressively reviewed, in a view to enhance mobility;

The Minister for Fundamental and Secondary Schooling ensures the operation of juvenile instruction heart; and

The federal government tabled a invoice to replicate the reforms needed within the Nationwide Intelligence Company (NIA), together with rebranding of the establishment because the State Intelligence Service (SIS), divesting detention energy and limitation of its mandate to intelligence gathering.

Among the amenities visited by the committee embrace however not restricted to PIU, Police Anti-Crime Unit, Banjulinding, Bakau, Kololi, Kotu, Tallinding, Serrekunda, Brusubi, Tanji, Tujereng and Gunjur Police Stations respectively.