By Buba Gagigo
The Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Justice of the Republic of the Gambia has announced the appointment of Ms. lda Persson as Special Adviser on Transitional Justice, effective January 1, 2024.
In an official press release, the ministry articulated, “In her role as Special Adviser, she would, among other things, guide the Ministry in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Government White Paper on the report of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).”
The Ministry of Justice highlighted Ms. Persson’s extensive background as a Gambian legal professional and transitional justice expert, boasting over a decade of expertise in legal affairs and program management. Her prior roles include serving as the UNDP’s Transitional Justice & Human Rights Specialist from 2018 to 2021 and as Programme Specialist & Head of Governance from 2021 to 2023.
During her tenure with the UN in The Gambia, Ms. Persson demonstrated adept strategic leadership in transitional justice, producing research papers and analyses. Notably, she contributed significantly to revising the UN Secretary General’s Guidance Note on Transitional Justice. Her skill set encompasses team leadership in strategic planning and overseeing essential governance and peace-building initiatives.
As a specialist in program management, Ms. Persson has successfully led projects encompassing transitional justice, elections, local governance, rule of law, security sector reform, human rights, accountability, anti-corruption frameworks, parliamentary development, and civil society organization participation in democratic processes.
Ms. Persson earned her B.A. in International Relations and Communication from Hult International Business School and an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University.