"Evaluate conditions of detention, highlighting the main problem areas including: prison conditions, health issues, arbitrary or extralegal detention or imprisonment, treatment of people deprived of their liberty and conditions of detention of especially vulnerable groups such as : refugees, persons suffering from physical or mental disabilities, or children. ..." That is not to say that host countries have not been, or will not be encouraged to bring their laws and regulations on prisons in line with international standards, as he is enjoined to do by clause 3.2 of the Mandate. ACKNOWLEDGMENT It was Mr. Germain Baricako, Secretary to the Commission, who gladly assured me that his secretariat would endeavour to get permission from the government of the Gambia for me to visit its prisons; and I took him by his word. Dr. Essombe Edimo Joseph and Mariam, Legal and Administrative Officers respectively of the Commission kept a channel of communication with the relevant authorities as made the visit a reality. I added my voice to the good work of the Secretariat in respect of consent for the visit while I was in the Gambia in February 1999. The Attorney-General, Mrs. Fatou B. Bensouda and Director of Public Prosecution, Justice Akanbah in diverse ways facilitated my work. Honourable Ousman Badgie, Secretary of State for Interior, Chief Justice Lartey, Justice Yahya, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Z.B. King and other officials were so gracious as to make time out of their busy schedule to have meetings with me. Mrs. Uju Agomoh, Executive Director of PRAWA, Mrs. Fatoumata San, Public Relations Officer and Mr. Udeme Essien, Legal Officer, both of the Commission, worked with me as a team. Much more ground was covered than if I had worked alone. Mrs. Sarr, whose knowledge of a Gambian language enabled me to hear from more prisoners, proved the point that team work is invaluable. Mr. Fred Agyemang also of the Commission drove me around, in Banjul, from the moment I set foot on Gambian soil until my departure for Accra. Mrs. Zoe Tembo, Executive Director of the African Centre for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights placed at my disposal her Centre's Four Wheel Drive for the long journey (300 kilometers) to Janjangbureh Prison. Without the Centre's driver, Mr. Lamin, we would not have moved from Banjul. Julia Harrington, Executive Director of Institute for Human Rights and Development, Banjul, supplied me with the governing laws and regulations on Prison in the Gambia. PRI did the same, as it also supplied me with background material on the country. The Fund for the SR's work raised by PRI, came from the government of Norway through NORAD. To all the above, and to many more who have not been named, I am extremely grateful. 5