Overview of Human Rights in The Gambia

The Gambia is a republic. The government works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens. However, there have been reports of human rights violations in recent years.

The Gambia's security forces often act outside of the law. They use excessive force and harassment, in their mistreatment of civilians, journalists, opposition members, as well as suspects and prisoners alike. Arbitrary arrest and detention often precede a prolonged pre-trial detention. The judicial system often denies due process and can be corrupt.

Freedoms of speech and press, as well as the right to privacy, are often undermined by the authorities arbitrarily. Child labor and trafficking of persons are also issues which have caught the eye of the international community.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

155th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.