The Interim Country Head of the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Mr. Pansaw Nyassi, has described the consultative forum organized for Civil Service Organizations(CSOs) as a unique opportunity for all the interested stakeholders to scrutinize the Gambia’s new Draft Constitution to ensure that it’s proposed provisions are relevant, complete, and appropriate to meet their unique needs and interests.
Nyassi made the observations on Tuesday, 3 December, at the consultation forum convened by DCAF-with funding from the British High Commission- to avail the stakeholders the opportunity to look at the various provisions of the draft constitution put together by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).
He intimated that considering the significance of the constitution in the overall state building and transformation process in The Gambia, as well as the likelihood that the constitution is unlikely to be changed for years or decades to come, it’s therefore a unique time for all stakeholders to scrutinize the draft.
Pointing put that the constitution is likely to be one of the defining guiding documents for national security sector reform process, in particular, the DCAF Interim boss believed the opportunity to scrutinize the constitution should enable stakeholders to share their views on the proposed formulation of security institutions’ mandates; rights and obligations afforded to both the citizens and the state; currently and newly proposed structures in the security sector; and to ensure that sufficient mechanisms for holding security actors to account are integrated into the new Constitution of The Gambia.
Nyassi told the participants that the review, in particular, would focus on the provisions related to the work or mandates of the securities.
The ultimate aim is to provide a succinct report to the CRC, incorporating comments and feedback on the provisions of the constitution prior to submission of the final draft of the Constitution by the CRC to government, said the DCAF top country official.
The participants further heard that the forum would focus on two broad areas namely: Review of the proposed structures or mandates of the security institutions, and the review of the proposed rights/accountability mechanisms.
“DCAF is dedicated to improving the security of people and the states they live in within a framework of democratic governance and human rights,” the Interim Country head reassured.
