Judicial officers and partners in the justice delivery sector on Friday 27th January, 2023 converged at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center to validate The Gambia Institute for Judicial Training and Research Bill, 2022. The document will guide the operation of the institute to put in place a reputable training and research institution to improve the administration of Justice and professional development. The initiative is funded by the USAID through its Promoting Rights and Justice in the Gambia Project.

In a statement on behalf of His Lordship, the Honorable Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow, Honorable Justice of the Supreme Court Cherno Sulaiman Jallow underscored the importance of the institute in keeping up with the training and research needs of the Judiciary as well as its support staff. He lauded the USAID for its support to the initiative while calling on the participants to make useful inputs on the document

For his part, the President of the Gambia Bar Association Mr Salieu Taal said the establishment of the institute is critical to efforts geared towards getting a competent and committed staff to take part in the administration of justice. He assured of his team’s support to the Judiciary as it undertakes reform initiatives to improve access to justice.

The Chief of Party of the Promoting Rights and Justice Project in the Gambia Mr Elysee Sindayigaya stressed his office’s resolve to support the Judiciary and all stakeholders in the justice sector to ensure that justice delivery in the Gambia is both efficient and effective.

The objective of The Gambia Institute for Judicial Training and Research Bill, 2022 is to, among other things, aid professional development, competence and leadership skills. It also seeks to create digital learning platforms and provide training that supports new ways of working in a modern justice delivery system.