New NHRC Commissioner
By Landing Ceesay
The National Assembly of the Gambia earlier Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Ms. Halimatou Dibba as a Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
According to the National Assembly website, Ms. Dibba was shortlisted for the job by the ‘Selection Panel’ in accordance with section 5(1) of the NHRC Act 2017 in June 2021 to fill a vacancy at the National Human Rights Commission.
“In tabling the report before the plenary, the Hon Majority Leader and member for Kombo South, Kebba K. Barrow expressed satisfaction of the Committee with the application of Ms. Dibba who has attained both experience and academic qualifications required for appointment as a Commissioner to the National Human Rights Commission,” the National Assembly wrote on its website.
Ms Dibba acquired a BA in Political science from the University of Ghana, and LLM International Law from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
Ms. Dibba, served as Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2010 and 13. Between 2018 and 19, she was a Medical Administrator at Sennelager Medical Centre in Germany.
At the time of her appointment, Ms. Dibba served as a full time lecturer in International Relations, International Law, and Human Rights System at the University of the Gambia.
In 2017, the National Assembly enacted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act with the mandate to promote and protect human rights. One of the core functions of the NHRC is to investigate a violation of human rights, at its own initiative or on a complaint made by any person or a group of persons.