Human rights record poor, says US report

The Gambia's human rights record in 2001 was poor and characterised by widespread incidents of female genital mutilation, extrajudicial killings, harassment of journalists, and limitations on freedom of speech, a United States government report said on Monday. Female genital mutilation (FGM) was legal and entrenched in the country's culture, "The Gambia Country Report on Human Rights Practices - 2001", released by the US Bureau of Democracy and Human Rights, said. "Reports placed the number of women who have undergone FGM at 60 percent and 90 percent. Approximately seven of the nine major ethnic groups practice FGM at ages varying from shortly after birth until 16 years old. The Government supported efforts to eradicate FGM. However, the Government has not passed legislation against FGM, which is not considered a criminal act. In 1999, President Yahya Jammeh publicly stated that the Government would not ban FGM, and that the practise was part of the country's culture", the report said. It noted that members of the country's security forces committed serious human rights abuses, including several extrajudicial killings and beatings, harassed, or otherwise mistreated journalists, detainees, and prisoners. It provides details of various cases of harassment, abuse, infringement of workers rights, and arrests of perceived opponents of the government. "Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained citizens, particularly opposition politicians, human rights activists, and journalists. Some of the detainees alleged harsh treatment while being arrested and detained, and there were reports of incommunicado detention", it stated. It hailed Jammeh for lifting some restrictions on political party activity, thereby creating a fairer political climate. "In the October presidential election, which most observers considered to be relatively free and fair despite some shortcomings, citizens exercised their right to change their government. The election passed smoothly and represented a significant improvement", it noted, adding that previously banned political parties participated in the election. "Opposition candidates had fair and frequent access to state-owned radio and television during the campaign, voter participation was high, and polling took place in an orderly manner. Five opposition parties competed and won 47 percent of the votes cast; Jammeh won 53 percent of the vote". The full report is available on [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/]