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Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
 Posted - 07 May 2010 : 21:59:30
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Human Rights Institute Concern With Access
By Lamin Njie
One fundamental right of primary concern to the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa’s (IHRDA) work in The Gambia is access to justice. Access to justice is incomplete without equality before the law. Meaning that the poor and vulnerable people must, with equal ease access judicial remedies for relief or resolution of any conflicts they may have.
The constitution of The Gambia considers that all persons are equal before the law. To ensure that this equality is preserved, the constitution further mandates the provision of legal aid at the expense of the state for persons charged with offences punishable by death or life imprisonment. This was further expanded in the Children’s Act 2005 to include children.
This message was contained in a statement issued by the institute marking World Press Freedom Day organized by The Gambia Press Union (GPU) at the Alliance Franco Gambianne along Kairaba Avenue.
According to the statement, in 2008 the National Assembly passed a new and progressive law called the Legal Aid Act 2008 that establishes an effective legal aid system in The Gambia.
"This Act will open the doors of justice to those who may have otherwise been shut out. This, it is hoped, will have such a ripple effect, bringing to life the promise of fundamental rights in The Gambian constitution to those who are economically constrained," the statement stated.
According to the statement, the 1997 constitution of The Gambia provides in its chapter on every person shall have the right to : freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media and freedom of thought, conscience and belief, which shall include academic freedom.
The Gambian constitution is remarkable as it explicitly provides even for freedom of thought and conscientious objection. On the press specifically, in section 207, the constitution further provides: The freedom and independence of the press and other information media are hereby guaranteed.
The statement further explained that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights provides, in its article 9: Every individual shall have the right to receive information and every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law.
The institute commended GPU for organising this symposium to commemorate the World Press Day 2010 under the theme "Freedom of information, the right to know."
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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