THE GAMBIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 9 June 2011 THE GAMBIA 9 JUNE 2011 Contents Preface Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 1.09 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.13 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY (1965 TO 2011).......................................................................................... 3.01 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (JANUARY 2011 TO MARCH 2011) ....................................... 4.01 5. CONSTITUTION.......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 6.01 The Executive Branch .......................................................................................... 6.05 The Legislative Branch ........................................................................................ 6.07 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 7.01 8. SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................................... 8.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 8.01 Police..................................................................................................................... 8.02 Structure and reform............................................................................................ 8.04 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 8.07 National Intelligence Agency (NIA) ..................................................................... 8.09 Human rights violations by government forces ................................................ 8.10 Arbitrary arrest and detention............................................................................. 8.10 Torture................................................................................................................ 8.15 Avenues of complaint .......................................................................................... 8.17 9. JUDICIARY................................................................................................................ 9.01 Organisation ......................................................................................................... 9.01 Independence ....................................................................................................... 9.08 Fair trial ................................................................................................................. 9.10 10. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS .................................................................. 10.01 11. PRISON CONDITIONS ................................................................................................. 11.01 12. DEATH PENALTY ....................................................................................................... 12.01 13. POLITICAL AFFILIATION ............................................................................................. 13.01 Freedom of political expression.......................................................................... 13.01 Freedom of association and assembly............................................................... 13.05 Opposition groups and political activists .......................................................... 13.09 14. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA............................................................................... 14.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 14.01 Newspapers, radio, Internet and television........................................................ 14.08 Journalists ............................................................................................................ 14.12 15. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS .................................... 15.01 16. CORRUPTION............................................................................................................ 16.01 17. FREEDOM OF RELIGION.............................................................................................. 17.01 Religious demography......................................................................................... 17.07 18. ETHNIC GROUPS ....................................................................................................... 18.01 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 9 June 2011. 9 JUNE 2011 THE GAMBIA Overview ............................................................................................................... 18.01 Mandinka............................................................................................................... 18.05 Fula (Fulakunda, Fulani) ...................................................................................... 18.10 Wolof ..................................................................................................................... 18.13 19. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PERSONS ................................. 19.01 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 19.01 Treatment by, and attitude of, state authorities................................................. 19.05 Societal treatment and attitudes ......................................................................... 19.13 Transgender/transexuality................................................................................... 16.16 20. DISABILITY ............................................................................................................... 20.01 21. WOMEN ................................................................................................................... 21.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 21.01 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 21.02 Political rights....................................................................................................... 21.04 Social and economic rights................................................................................. 21.06 Access to education and employment................................................................ 21.08 Marriage and divorce.......................................................................................... 21.11 Violence against women...................................................................................... 21.15 Rape................................................................................................................... 21.22 Government and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) assistance ............ 21.24 Health and welfare................................................................................................ 21.26 22. CHILDREN ................................................................................................................ 22.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 22.01 Basic legal information ....................................................................................... 22.04 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 22.05 Violence against children ................................................................................... 22.11 Underage/forced marriage ................................................................................. 22.18 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ....................................................................... 22.20 Child labour ........................................................................................................ 22.25 Childcare and protection .................................................................................... 22.31 Street children ...................................................................................................... 22.32 Education .............................................................................................................. 22.36 Health and welfare................................................................................................ 22.43 Documentation ..................................................................................................... 22.47 23. TRAFFICKING............................................................................................................ 23.01 Overview ..............................................................................................................