The Gambia makes statements of support for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty
A Torture-Free Trade Treaty is a vital part of ending the use of specialist weapons and equipment to commit acts of torture or other ill-treatment.
The United Against Torture Consortium calls on States to take action to end the trade in tools of torture.
The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) is a regional NGO based in South Africa, which represents the Pan-African Reparations Initiative on the core organising group of the civil society Torture-Free Trade Network. CSVR joins Omega in this core group.
Under a project funded by the United Against Torture Consortium through Omega’s small grants scheme ‘Financial Support to Strengthen and Sustain Campaigning for Torture-Free Trade’, CSVR organised a side event to the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in October 2024.
During this event, Mr. Hussein Thomasi, the Solicitor General of The Gambia, made a powerful statement of support for a treaty to address the trade in law enforcement weapons and equipment used for torture and other ill-treatment.
Mr. Thomasi invoked the rich history of African states in “fighting for human dignity and freedom, shaped by struggles against colonialism, apartheid, and oppressive regimes”.
He noted that “Advocating for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty aligns with this legacy, positioning African states as natural and moral leaders in the global fight against human rights abuses”.
This was the first public statement from an official of The Gambia on the need to address this trade, and marked a significant moment in engaging African states in the campaign for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty.
The statement has provided a valuable foundation on which to build further advocacy with the government of The Gambia, encouraging their support for torture-free trade.
In May 2025, at a panel organised by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa as part of the 83rd Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, Ms. Mariama Singhateh, Senior State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice of the Gambia, stated: “As a country that has experienced brutality from its security forces, we are very much committed to eradicating all forms of violence and prohibiting the trade and use of any implements that may be used to commit torture. Thus it is an honour for us to be one of the countries in Africa that is championing the cause for the Torture-Free Trade Treaty”.
Notably, this statement was made at a panel organised as part of the main agenda, marking a clear shift in the profile of this issue from the two previous side events on the theme, held on the margins of the Commission sessions in Arusha and Banjul).
Leadership on this issue from The Gambia – both regionally and internationally – will mark a significant step forwards towards a Torture-Free Trade Treaty.