State House, Banjul, 16th December 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) gives insights into its 2025 annual report to His Excellency President Adama Barrow at the State House, highlighting significant improvements in the country's human rights situation.

Key areas of focus include: improvement of detention cells and prisons to meet the Mandela Rules standards, enhancing human rights education to support the TRRC and other institutions, strengthening the rule of law and international cooperation.

The report further addresses hate speech, particularly among politicians and religious leaders, support for the government's plans of building a new central prison, implementation of polices on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and boosting NHRC's advisory role to the courts on issues like FGM.

President Barrow appreciated the NHRC's for the timely annual report and pledged the government's support to the institution, stressing the need for rehabilitating prisoners through correction and providing opportunities for them to reintegrate into society. He cited an example of employing an ex-prisoner to train young people at a rural skills center to break cycles of crime and foster positive change.

The President also shared his vision of transforming The Gambia into a middle-income country through social projects funded by The Gambia Local Fund (GLF).

He advised NHRC commissioners to be "tolerant, patient, but to stand firm" in their duty of promoting human rights and national development. President Barrow reiterated his commitment to supporting the National Human Rights Commission and ensuring it has the necessary space to perform its independent oversight functions. This pledge underscores The Gambia's government commitment to promoting human rights and social cohesion.

The Chairperson of NHRC, Emmanuel Daniels Joof, highlighted the Commission's wide-ranging mandate to promote human rights, emphasising its advisory role to the government in supporting informed decision-making and policy development.

The report commends the government's willingness to engage with the NHRC and notes the need for stronger support for the Commission's role.