Gambia: Amnesty International expresses solidarity with civil society in Gambia

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT AI Index: AFR 27/008/2009 13 November 2009 Amnesty International expresses solidarity with civil society in Gambia Amnesty International is seriously concerned that despite recommendations by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has refused to withdraw his threats against human rights defende [...] In solidarity with human rights defenders and other members of civil society in Gambia, Amnesty International has decided not to attend the ongoing 46th Ordinary Session of the African Commission in Banjul, Gambia. [...] Several human rights non-governmental organizations have condemned the threats issued by the President and asked the Gambian authorities to guarantee the human rights and safety of human rights defenders and other members of civil society in Gambia. [...] In October, during the 7th Extraordinary Session in Dakar, Senegal, the African Commission expressed concerns about the threats issued by President Jammeh and asked the Gambian government to withdraw them and guarantee respect for the human rights of human rights defenders and other members of civil society in Gambia. [...] The African Commission called on the African Union (AU) to intervene and ensure that President Jammeh withdrew threats made in his statement.