THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA’S COMBINED REPORT ON THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN & PEOPLES’ RIGHTS & INITIAL REPORT ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA that their human rights are promoted and protected. Care delivered to people with mental disorders should be strictly confidential. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with partners in the health sector, is in the process of reforming the mental health legislation that was formulated in 1939 and amended in 1964. The mental health legislation if reviewed and repealed will be a useful and effective instrument to improve the situation of people with mental disorders and ensure their protection against human rights violations as well as the promotion of autonomy, liberty and access to health care. It will also make provisions to promote: Confidentiality, Informed consent, equal access to care, conditions in mental health facilities, appropriate and accessible care in the least restrictive environment in their community, safeguards to protect against abuse, equal opportunities to or for employment and shelter or housing; and equal access to justice amongst others. In addition to operationalizing the Mental Health Bill, once passed it is Government’s policy as stated under the National Health Policy 2012- 2020 to also strengthen capacity for mental health research. Communities in The Gambia are faced with numerous mental, neurological and psychosocial disorders that undermined development. Based on the prevalence rate from the World Mental Health Survey in 2004, it is estimated that approximately 27000 people in The Gambia (3% of the population aged 15 years and more) are suffering from severe mental disorders and a further 9100 (10% of the population aged 15 years and more) are suffering from moderate to mild mental disorders. This means that at least 118,000 people in The Gambia (13% of the adult population) are likely to be affected by mental disorders which require varying degrees of treatment and care. In order to address this problem, the Government through the ministry of health, has taken a number of measures; the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare established a Health Promotion and Education Directorate in June 2012, which houses non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health Unit respectively. The creation of a Directorate is intended to give the “strategic push” needed for tackling NCDs and Mental Health through health promotion. The creation of the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education has led to the proper coordination of advocacy, communication and social mobilization on mental health issues, as well as strengthened partnership and inter-sectoral collaboration at national and 73