CSVR | CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE AND RECONCILIATION

African countries have a wealth of experience in implementing truth commissions and adapting them to their national contexts, spanning several decades. As noted in the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy, truth commissions are an indicative element of transitional justice. They are “legal bodies established to examine and address violations and abuses. They also serve to establish a full historical record of such violations, including the various experiences of different groups such as women, children and youth, the identity of the victims and perpetrators, as well as the role of various State and non-State institutions, and to provide for measures of reconciliation and healing.”

For each truth commission, when available, this database includes the commission’s mandate, method and year of establishment, period active and final report. It also includes the conflict period as defined in the mandate and the peace agreement that gave rise to the commission. The database was updated in 2023.

The Gambia

Gambia

Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission

The Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (2018-2021) was mandated to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights committed during the period of 1994 to 2017, and to consider the granting of reparations to victims and for connected matters. According to its founding legislation, the functions of the commission include initiating and coordinating investigations into human rights violations, using a child- and gender-sensitive approach; submitting an interim report to the president one year after its establishment; preparing a comprehensive report of all activities and findings; and making recommendations to the president with regard to the creation of institutions conducive to the development of a stable and democratic society and measures that should be taken to prevent the perpetration of human rights violations.

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