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 The Police Force has also developed a human rights training manual and also have a Human Rights Unit conducting advocacy, monitoring human rights adherence of the force. The Unit also receives complaints of human rights abuses by its officials and currently receives on average four complaints per day. Continuous sensitization workshops and trainings have been conducted for prison officials on prison management systems and human rights in general and the prevention and prohibition of torture has been a wide topic of discussion in these trainings. A National Women`s Council has been established by the National Women’s Council Act 1980 amended in 2010. The Council is composed of 65 members with 8 nominated councillors representing the interests of women countrywide. The Act mandates the Council to develop methods for the integration and implementation of gender and women’s rights initiatives in all areas of Government activities, to initiate education for all public officers and authorities regarding equality between women and men, examine and study the economic, social and cultural structure of the society and advise the Government on areas where the participation of women should be encouraged and strengthened. Some of the salient provisions of the Act include the right to dignity, access to justice and equal protection before the law, right to moveable and immoveable property, right to freedom of expression, protection from violence, prohibition of discrimination, right to health and health care services, the rights of women in rural communities, right to marry, special protection of elderly women, women with disabilities and women in distress. Section 28 of the Constitution also provides for the right to equal treatment with men, including equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities. Section 33 of the Constitution also prohibits discrimination inter alia on the basis of gender. In addition to the Constitutional and legislative measures, The Gambia adopted the National Policy for the Advancement of Gambian Women 2010-2020 which focuses on gender as a development concept and the participation of women and men in an equal and equitable manner for economic, political and social development of The Gambia. Furthermore, one of the policy’s guiding principles is to take affirmative action to redress historical and traditional forms of discrimination against women and girls in political, education, economic and other social spheres. Prosecutors, law enforcement agents including prison wardens have started receiving human rights training in various aspects such as investigations, prosecutions, and through the assistance and support of local and international NGOs such as the International Senior Lawyers Project, the International Institute for 121