Senegal has a good record on human rights: it is a 90% Muslim country where it is said "Human Rights Not New in Islam".  Tolerance and respect for civil and political rights are broadly practised.  But, for any country, it can be difficult to fully implement the international human rights conventions that have been signed.

With the support of the UK, through our Chevening Fellowship scheme, Mr Seydi Gassama, Head of Amnesty International Senegal, was able to undertake the Implementing Human Rights Conventions course at The University of Nottingham School of Law, Human Rights Law centre, in the UK.  

This three-month full-time course gives an ‘in depth’ understanding of international human rights law, standards and systems, and their implementation at the national level by government, legislatures, the courts, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organisations.  As part of the course Mr Gassama visited the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the UK Parliament, the highest UK court (the House of Lords), a UK prison and human rights groups in the UK.  

Now back in Senegal, Mr Gassama, Head of Amnesty International Senegal, will be working to put everything he learnt into action.  With his knowledge and understanding he is now well-placed to advise all levels of government and society on how best to implement human rights conventions at the national level.