In conversation with the leaders of The Gambana International Movement, who have been legally fighting caste and descent based discrimination in Garawol, Upper-River Region of The Gambia
For Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), access to justice is obstructed at every step - by caste and descent-based bias embedded in policing, investigation, prosecution, and the courts. Survivors, especially women, face immense hurdles in filing police complaints, navigating hostile legal systems, and securing fair hearings. Even where protective laws exist, implementation is weak, legal aid is scarce, and discrimination is systemic. As a result, impunity remains the norm, and justice remains out of reach for many.
Our CDWD Rights Experts receive specialist training on national and international legal frameworks, complaint procedures, and advocacy strategies. These experts play a vital role in documenting violations, supporting survivors, and holding institutions accountable.
Through partnerships with legal networks - including Lawyers Without Borders in Africa - we have strengthened efforts to bring cases of caste and descent-based violence to court. By building alliances with local and international legal actors, we’re ensuring that CDWD cases are not just heard but pursued with the seriousness they deserve.
At the international level, we bring these issues to light using United Nations Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures by contributing data, testimonies, and stakeholder reports. Through ongoing national, regional, and global reporting, we push for systems where justice is not selective - and where CDWD voices are at the center of reform.
