Senegal authorities have been urged to demand the Gambian government to improve on its human rights record.
The United Nations' Universal Periodic Review (UPR), presently under way in the Swiss capital of Geneva, offers UN members the opportunity to question individual countries’ human rights records and to suggest action to address violations. Each country is reviewed every four years with the aim of ensuring states fulfill their human rights obligations and commitments.
The was an opportunity for UN member states to question the Gambian government on its record on human rights and propose measures to remedy violations of these rights.
Speaking on the occasion of the review conducted by the United Nations on February 10 in Geneva, Seydi Gassama, Director of Amnesty International Dakar office said Senegal has a major role to play in improving the human rights situation in Gambia.
"Senegal must ask the Gambian government to initiate independent investigations towed allegations of torture and ill-treatment and ensure that perpetrators of such abuses are brought to justice " he emphasized.
In addition, Amnesty International urged the Senegalese government to ensure that the review devoted to the Gambia is an opportunity to address the issue of compensation s paid to victims of torture and to obtain assurances that these grave human rights violations do not recur.
According to Mr. Gassama Amnesty International has evidence that journalists, opposition politicians and their supporters are victims of enforced disappearances in the Gambia. "The Gambian government continues its policy of repression, undermining the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,’ he lamented.
. In a report submitted to the UN on the eve of the planned review February 10, 2010, Senegal must seize the opportunity given to it and ask the Gambian government to investigate all allegations of enforced disappearances and to ensure that justice is done.

In Gambia, the human rights situation has worsened since the attempted coup foiled in March 2006.
Furthermore, Amnesty International urged the Gambian govern seize the opportunity offered by the periodic review universal to demonstrate its determination to fulfill its obligations and commitments on human rights.