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 BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION The Republic of The Gambia presents this Periodic Report in line with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and People`s Rights and in compliance with the reporting guidelines contained in Sheet Number Five issued by this esteemed Commission. This report was prepared by the Government in close cooperation with some Non-Governmental Organizations and civil society Organisations operating in The Gambia. This is the 2nd Combined Periodic Reports submitted by The Gambia to the African Commission on Human and People’ Rights and it seeks to highlights the developments, progress and challenges in the implementation of the Charter during the reporting period of 1994 to 2018. This report has two parts namely:  Part A ---- The Report on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights  Part B ---- The Report on the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol). 16