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 3. Legal Aid: The National Agency for Legal Aid in The Gambia is responsible for the administration of the grant of Legal Aid in proceedings where persons are in conflict with the law and cannot afford the services of a legal representation as enshrined in the Constitution. The Agency has between 2012 and 2014 provided free legal aid services to over 300 persons women and children inclusive. This is enforcing the provisions in the Women’s Act 2010 calling for women entitlement to equal protection and easy access to justice. 4. The Network Against Gender Based Violence In support of Government efforts to ensure effective protection of the rights of women and children there are supporting partners both from the Civil Society Organisations and from Non -Governmental Organisations. The Network Against Gender Based Violence embarks on campaign exercises to raise awareness on the issue of gender based violence and has established the One Stop Centre at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, which is primarily a centre for the victims of gender based violence. There is also the Shelter in Bakoteh where victims of gender based violence are provided with psychotherapy and counselling. The combined effects of the above legislations, policies and programmes is to ensure that the fundamental human rights of women, children, the elderly and persons with disability are respected and upheld by all organs of the State. CHAPTER THREE: PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ARTICLE 19: NON-DOMINATION OF A PEOPLE BY ANOTHER In furtherance of the preservation of social order, every person in The Gambia is guaranteed equal rights, obligations, opportunities and fundamental freedoms before the law. The Gambia continues to abide by its constitutional obligations in Section 33 of the Constitution by recognising that discrimination is tantamount to domination of a people. The Constitution provides that ‘’all persons shall be equal before the law and that no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or public authority’’. 106