By Landing Ceesay
The President of the Republic of the Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, Sworn-In Ms. Halimatou Dibba, as a Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Following the National Assembly of the Gambia’s acceptance of her nomination as a commissioner of the NHRC-the Gambia, Ms. Dibba today took the prescribed oaths of office, as a new addition to the commission.
Shortly, after swearing her in, President Barrow is hopeful that Ms. Dibba’s passion for Human Rights will add value to the Commission’s work.
“Since the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and its Secretariat in 2019, I have been receiving its reports on the state of Human Rights in the country. We are aware that there can be Human Rights abuses, and Human Rights abuses can occur in our society. But still the government is confident that the National Human Right institution will justly and rightfully continue to guide the nation, citizens and government alike on Human rights issues. In this connection, I am hopeful that in view of her passion for Human Rights advocacy Halimatou Dibba, will add value to the Commission’s work,” Barrow said.
Ms. Dibba is one of the two shortlisted nominees for the position of a commissioner at the NHRC who ultimately became the sole choice for the Public Appointment Standing Committee (PASC), after the body realized that the second nominee, Musu Bakoto Sawo was out of jurisdiction to be appointed as a Commissioner.
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.
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