In the context of its mission to strengthen human rights protection and promotion in Africa, the Institute

for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) launched the “Human Rights Capacity-Building

Project for Gambia Law Enforcement Agencies” in October 2015. The goal of this project is to strengthen

the human rights culture in the public security sector of The Gambia, in a bid to improve the relationship

between public security institutions and the public, and restore public confidence in the sector, which is

vital to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The relevance of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) in matters of public security does not need to

be over-emphasized.

While the GID has an exceedingly important role to play in ensuring the security of the country, as it

engages with Gambians and non-Gambians, it is also very much involved in defining the first and the last

impressions the outside world has about The Gambia. This is particularly so because non-nationals are

bound to pass through GID services at their entry, during their stay and at their exit of the country. And at all

levels of interaction with Immigration services, they build an impression about the country and its systems.

Therefore, even at the point of exiting the country, the way you will treat a non-national, or even a Gambian

residing out of the country, could completely change their perception about this country.

In this human rights capacity-building project, IHRDA has provided training to some Immigration Officers,

and this manual is expected to complement the knowledge transferred to personnel of the institution.

We therefore hope that this manual will serve as a practical, user-friendly guide for better understanding and

applying of human rights principles in the everyday duties of Immigration Officers. The manual is designed

such that, depending on the issue at hand, the user can refer directly to the subject matter that pertains

to the issue. For example, the issues covered include the basic definition of human rights, the handling of

arrests, searches and seizures, the use of force, rights of detainees, the definition of vulnerable groups

and why they deserve special protection, and how human rights can improve the work of Immigration

Officers, etc. All of the subjects covered draw inspiration from relevant national and international law and

standards.

IHRDA would like to particularly thank the Canadian Embassy in Dakar for its commitment and support to

the Human Rights Capacity-Building Project for Gambia Law Enforcement Agencies.