On October 21, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal, a gala dinner was held to honour The Gambia's retired Chief Justice, Hon. Hassan B. Jallow, for his significant contribution to the cause of human rights in Africa. The award was presented by the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Hon. Edrissa Sow of Senegal. The award cited "Africa's tribute of gratitude" for Justice Jallow's role as a member of the group of experts who drafted the African Banjul Charter in Dakar, Senegal, in 1979.
The African Banjul Charter was finalised at two ministerial meetings held in Banjul in 1979 and 1980 and finally adopted by the OAU Heads of State in 1981. The award ceremony was the culmination of a two-day African Human Rights dialogue in Dakar, which brought together members of the African Commission on human rights, the African Court on human rights, representatives of AU member states, and civil society organisations. They were celebrating the 45th and 40th anniversaries, respectively, of the adoption of the Charter and its entry into force.
Awards were also made to two other colleagues of Justice Jallow, Hon. Amos Wako of Kenya and Hon. Mariam Coulibaly Ndiaye of Mali. In accepting the award, Justice Jallow thanked the African Human Rights Mechanism for this recognition, which he said he was acknowledging for himself and for the other members of the expert group who could no longer be present.
During the dialogue at the conference, Justice Jallow outlined the genesis of the Charter, highlighting the challenges in its drafting and how these were overcome to provide Africa and the world with what has become a unique legal instrument on human rights now in its 45th year. He urged Africa to progress to the next stage to establish and maintain national, regional, and possibly a continental system for the accountability of perpetrators of mass human rights violations.
Justice Jallow recognised and applauded the valuable contribution of several persons in the development of the African Human Rights system, amongst them former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara of The Gambia and former President Leopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who contributed to the strengthening of human rights in Africa over the past 45 years.
Retired Chief Justice Jallow has continued to assist in the strengthening of human rights in Africa through the establishment of the African Human Rights Commission in Banjul, the implementation of the Banjul Charter, and the establishment of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in Banjul. He has also assisted the Commonwealth as Head of the Governmental Working Group on Human Rights and wider afield in the UN system.
The Gambian delegation to the dialogue was led by the Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, assisted by senior officials from his ministry and Ministry of Justice, as well as civil society groups in The Gambia. The Hon. Minister delivered opening remarks and presided over the session of the dialogue on responding to emerging and enduring human rights challenges.
Key points
- The African human rights family has honoured retired Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow for his significant contribution to human rights in Africa.
- Justice Jallow was a member of the group of experts who drafted the African Banjul Charter in 1979.
- The award ceremony was part of a two-day African Human Rights dialogue in Dakar, celebrating the 45th and 40th anniversaries of the adoption of the Charter and its entry into force.
