Mama Fatima Singhateh

Mama Fatima Singhateh is a Gambian lawyer, judge, and politician. Between 2009 and 2013, she served as a judge first in the High Court and then at the Court of Appeal of the Gambia.[1] She subsequently served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Gambia from 2013 to 2014, and again from 2015 to 2017.[2][3] She currently serves as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children.[4]

Mama Fatima Singhateh
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children
Assumed office
13 March 2020
Preceded byMaud de Boer-Buquicchio
Minister of Justice
Attorney General
In office
12 January 2015 – 17 January 2017
PresidentYahya Jammeh
Preceded byBasiru Mahoney
Succeeded byBa Tambadou
In office
27 August 2013 – 27 August 2014
PresidentYahya Jammeh
Preceded byAmie Joof
Succeeded byBasiru Mahoney
Personal details
NationalityGambian
Alma materUniversity of Hull
University of Wales

Early life and education

Mama Singhateh went through her basic and Secondary School Education in Banjul The Gambia. She then proceeded to the University of Hull, United Kingdom, from which she graduated with and LLB (Hons) in 1997. She went on to obtain a Masters in International Business Law from the same university in 1998. Between 1998 and 1999 she completed the Bar Vocational Course at the University of Wales and was called to the Bar of England and Wales as Barrister.

Professional career

Before her appointment as Minister Mama Fatima Singhateh held several positions within the Attorney General's Chambers of The Gambia, first as State Counsel in 2002 then as Senior State Counsel and then as Principal Drafts person. Between 2007 and 2009 Mama Singhateh branched into the private sector where she headed the legal Department at one of the International Banks before being appointed Judge of the High Court of The Gambia[1]

Judicial career

In August 2009, upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, Mama Fatima Singhateh was appointed as Judge of the High Court by His Excellency President Yaya Jammeh. Having performed Excellently well in this role she was elevated to the Gambia Court of Appeal in 2012 where she served until her appointment as Minister of Justice. While at the Judiciary Justice Singhateh was the Project Coordinator of the UNDP Justice Sector project[5] under which huge strides were made in the administration of justice and improvement in the legal capacity of the judiciary.

Political appointments

In August 2013 Mama Singhateh was appointed to the Cabinet of the Government of The Gambia to occupy the position of Attorney General and Minister of Justice. This appointment was seen as a very strategic one given her previous vast experience within this Ministry. Her stint as Minister saw the launch of major projects within the justice sector, notably the refurbishment of the Ministry's premises[6] and for the very first time, the launching of the Single Business Window Registry. In 2015 her Ministry spearheaded amendments in the Sexual Offences Act, outlawing the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia.[7] A year later, she led legislative efforts that resulted in the historical outlawing of child marriages in The Gambia.[8][9]

Minister SInghateh on Official visit to Rwanda

She was relieved of her appointment as Minister of Justice in August 2014. In January 2015 she was re-appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice,[10] a position that she held until 17 January 2017.

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children

In March 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Mama Singhateh as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, replacing Maud de Boer-Buquicchio who had held that position since May 2014.[11] [12]

References
  1. "Five Gambian Judges Appointed - Africa.gm - Africa news and information community". Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. "Gambia's ruler names new justice minister after coup bid".
  3. "Gambia: Mama Fatima Singhateh Bounces Back". allAfrica.com. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. "OHCHR | Special Rapporteur on the sale of children". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  5. "UNDP assists the Judiciary - Daily Observer". Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  6. "Refurbished Justice Ministry building inaugurated - The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia". Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  7. Lyons, Kate (2015-11-24). "The Gambia bans female genital mutilation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  8. "Gambia: Bill outlawing child marriage to become law". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  9. "Ban on child brides becomes law in Gambia". eNCA. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. "Mama Fatima Singhateh bounces back - Daily Observer". Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  11. "Where global solutions are shaped for you | News & Media | HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTS UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OUTCOME OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, HOLDS DEBATE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT, AND SUSPENDS ITS FORTY-THIRD SESSI". www.unog.ch. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  12. nzoller. "2020-03 UN HR Special Procedures: 19 Experts appointed during 43rd session by HR Council". Retrieved 2020-05-06.
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