PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE GAMBIA (18 July 2016)

That this House is very concerned about the situation in the Gambia with the continuing crack-down on freedom of expression, assembly and association, illustrated by the death in April of Solo Sandeng, Secretary of the opposition United Democratic Party, after being detained for participating in a protest in Banjul; is dismayed by reports of President Jammeh's recent comments, including his reference to the opposition as vermin and threats to bury them nine feet deep, and his threats to eliminate the Mandinka ethnic group; notes that the UN Special Advisor, on the Prevention of Genocide has expressed profound alarm at President Jammeh's public stigmatisation and dehumanisation of the Mandinka, and highlighted that hate speech constituting incitement to violence can be both a warning sign and a powerful trigger for atrocity crimes; further notes that President Jammeh has created a climate of fear since he seized power in a coup in 1994, resulting in thousands of Gambians fleeing the country; fears that repression could increase in the run-up to the Presidential elections scheduled at the end of 2016; and calls on the UK Government, together with the international community, to condemn the actions of the Jammeh Government, to seriously consider imposing punitive measures on President Jammeh and leading members of his regime, to secure support for a Special Rapporteur on the Gambia at the UN Human Rights Council, and to do more to assist and protect civil society in the Gambia.

Sponsored by:
Anne McLaughlin (Scottish National Party)