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 Vulnerable women and youth Refugees and migrants Prison inmates and their families Yes Some No No Yes Perhaps No Perhaps Perhaps No No Perhaps Perhaps No Yes Some No No Yes Probably No Other Legislation & Institutions for The Protection Of Women And Children 1. The Domestic and Sexual Violence Act 2013 The Government has taken practical steps to promote and protect the rights of women in The Gambia. The Sexual Offences Act of 2013 amended the law and procedure relating to the trial of rape and other sexual offences. The Domestic Violence Act of 2013 is intended to combat domestic violence, provide protection for the victims of domestic violence particularly women and children as well as enhance women’s access to courts and tribunals in cases of domestic and gender based violence. The Domestic Violence Act 2013 and sexual Offences Act, 2013 are fundamental in addressing violence against women and girls. Section 6 of the Domestic Violence Act prohibits all violence against women and girls (including any form of physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm, suffering or violence) occurring in public or private. Sections 9 and 10 prohibit discrimination of women through words, acts, inactions, omissions, regulations or administrative procedures by public, Government or private enterprise The Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Police investigate and prosecute perpetrators of sexual, domestic or of any form of gender based violence. 2. Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 The National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons has its own Investigators and Prosecutors and despite the fact that there are limited prosecutions, preventive measures are being taken by the Agency in collaboration with the Law Enforcement Agencies to stop traffickers. 105