The Women’s Association for Women and Victims’ Empowerment WAVE Gambia, in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission, The Gambia (NHRC) and with support from United Against Torture, has trained over 150 newly graduated police officers on two key pieces of legislation, the Public Order Act and the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023.
The day-long training, held on Friday, 24th October 2025, at the Police Training School in Banjulinding, aimed to strengthen the capacity of security personnel to prevent and combat all forms of torture and ill-treatment, promote accountability, and uphold human rights standards in line with both national and international obligations.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Ansumana Kinteh, Commissioner for Human Rights and Professional Standards at the Gambia Police Force Headquarters, reminded the recruits of the importance of upholding the law. He cautioned them against “engaging in any form of torture or abuse of suspects,” emphasizing that law enforcement must always operate within the “confines of justice and human rights.”
The training comes at a critical time when several incidents of alleged police brutality have surfaced in the media, reportedly involving some newly recruited officers. One such incident occurred in October at the National Audit Office, where a video showed police officers believed to be new recruits, roughly handling activist Aliu Bah, throwing him into the back of a pickup truck.
Through this initiative, WAVE and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a culture of respect, dignity, and justice, ensuring that every individual in The Gambia is protected from torture and all other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Source: Askanwi