Victims Center to complement TRRC’s efforts

By Mariama Faal

The Gambia Victims Center for human rights violations to complement the efforts of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), in the mission of fulfilling its obligation under the terms and conditions in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) singed to strengthen the role of victims in the TRRC process.
 

These were revealed at a MOU signing ceremony held at the Victims Center’s office in Kololi. 

The chairman of Gambia Victims Center Sheriff Muhammed Kejira explained that the MOU is part of their ongoing advocacy activities to facilitate justice for the victims and to support the work of the TRRC.

“The signing ceremony marks a true milestone on the TRRC’s journey; this is a time and real change. We know that we need a total renewal of our relationship; therefore we acknowledge the TRRC’s resolve to foster cooperation with the victims. We further congratulate the TRRC for demonstrating role of victims to access justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing in achieving sustainable peace for The Gambia,” he said.

He added that the MOU seeks to establish the terms and conditions under which the victims’ center will engage with support and be assisted by the TRRC in coordination, communication and collaboration framework and mechanisms between the two parties. He said the MOU further seeks to ensure transparency and fair interactions and that of the victims to be treated with dignity and respect in all interactions with the TRRC and its staff. 

“The victims’ center and TRRC can serve as common platforms for trust building and the development of a new social contract for the future.”

The deputy executive secretary of TRRC Musso Bakoto Saho thanked the victims’ center for the appreciation and the MOU that will help them to make their work easy. 

She said the work of the TRRC cannot be done without the work of Victims Center, saying that mean the victims are the heart of the work they do. 

“It is on this that we thought there was need for us to synergies our efforts to not duplicate things but to work together. We didn’t make decision on the people that are concerns, it’s the victims that will tell us what they need and we will establish a victim support unit within the TRRC to help assess the needs of the victims and that will enable us provide the necessary support they need.” 

She lamented that the partnership with victims’ center will enable them have more victims to come because the project will only be successful if victims come out and explain their stories.