Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has engaged security institutions and other key stakeholders to address human rights concerns in detention facilities across The Gambia, with particular attention to prison conditions, access to healthcare, and the treatment of children in conflict with the law.
The engagement, held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, provided an opportunity for the institutions to discuss findings from the NHRC’s monitoring report on prisons and police stations conducted in April 2026.
Among the concerns highlighted were inadequate ventilation and lighting in detention facilities, limited budgets for maintenance, and poor access to healthcare. Participants also raised concerns about coordination between institutions responsible for adults and children in conflict with the law.
The discussions stressed the need for improvements in detention infrastructure and access to both physical and mental healthcare for people deprived of their liberty.
Stakeholders also called for stronger coordination among security institutions and other relevant actors, particularly in cases involving children.
They emphasised that children in conflict with the law should be kept separate from adults in detention and that detention of children should only be used as a measure of last resort.
The institutions further stressed the importance of ensuring that detention practices comply with national laws and international human rights standards.
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring detention facilities and working to safeguard the dignity and fundamental rights of all persons deprived of their liberty.
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