AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND COMMONWEALTH HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE
9 February 2010 - Ghana urged to demand improvement in Gambian human rights record
Ghana must call on the Gambian government to improve its human rights record when it comes under review at the United Nations on 10 February, Amnesty International and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative said today.
During the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review (UPR), UN members will have the opportunity to question the Gambian government on its human rights record and to suggest action to address violations.
“Ghana has a key role to play in strengthening the human rights situation in Gambia when it is reviewed at the UN,” said Nana Oye Lithur, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
“Journalists in Gambia continued to be attacked and threatened. Ghana must call on the Gambian government to ensure members of the media are given the full and fair protection of the law,” said Lawrence Amesu, director of Amnesty International Ghana.
In a report submitted to the UN ahead of this week's review, Amnesty International, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and 10 other stakeholders, detail evidence of harassment, threats and unlawful arrests against journalists.
Since 1994, at least 29 journalists have left the country, more than half of them in the last two years and at least 10 of them have been granted asylum elsewhere.
In August 2009, six journalists were sentenced to two years imprisonment and a US$ 10,000 fine because they had criticized a statement by the president about the unsolved murder of prominent journalist Deydra Hydara. They were released under a presidential pardon on 3 September 2009.
Both organizations also urged Ghana to ensure that the review is used as an opportunity to call on the Gambian government to investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
The human rights situation in Gambia, has worsened since the foiled alleged coup plot in March 2006.
Amnesty International and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative have also called on the Gambian government to use the occasion of the UPR to demonstrate real commitment to the fulfilment of its human rights obligations and commitments.
Background
The UPR is an opportunity for UN Human Rights Council to examine the human rights record of all member states. Each country is reviewed every four years with the aim of ensuring states meet all of their human rights obligations and commitments.