Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie

Managing Partner TORODO Chambers. Recently elected by the African Union Executive Council as a Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. Appointed by the African Commission at it 69th Ordinary Session as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Passionate women’s rights advocate. Volunteer significantly, on advocacy for litigating and promoting the rights of women and children. Founder, President and current Adviser of the Female Lawyers Association-The Gambia (FLAG).

A significant part of Ms. Sallah-Njie’s career has been spent in working for the public and private sectors of The Gambia. Served in various positions within the public service of The Gambia from 1990 to 2002. These include offices of, Solicitor General and Legal Secretary; Parliamentary Counsel; and Legal Adviser to Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia.

Over 30 years of working experience in major assignments and a distinguished career in litigation, and the review and drafting of laws relating to- women and gender and development; access to justice and good governance; environment, private sector development and utilities regulation, competition law and policy, strategic planning and corporate governance. Major assignments include-

• • • Commissioner of the Constitutional Review Commission of the Gambia,
    • Coordinator and Key Expert European Union Technical Assistance for Access to Justice and Legal Education in the Gambia, as part of the EU Governance Programme,
    • National Review Report on The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action-Beijing Plus 20,
    • National Review Report Solemn Declaration on Gender Equity in Africa,
    • Review of National Laws relating to women and Gender Based Violence and the drafting of the Women’s Act 2013, Sexual Offences Act 2013, the Domestic Violence Act, and Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia (Amendment) Bill 2021, (To make provision for affirmative action and increased participation of women and the disabled in the National Assembly).
    • Consultant to UN Women and the Commonwealth Secretariat to undertake a comprehensive desk review of all laws in the Gambia (the first of its kind globally) as a key part of the implementation of Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030: A Multistakeholder Strategy for Accelerated Action as a roadmap for the elimination of laws that discriminate against women and girls.

Formal qualifications include, LLM (Hons) (London School of Economics and Political Science); Post Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting (University of West Indies). Also benefitted from several training programmes and professional development courses, including, training programmes on, Gender and Development; Competition Law and Policy; intellectual Property Rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental Law and policy and Sharia Personal Law.