Officers learn prisoners’ rights in Malakal

28 Nov 2010

Officers learn prisoners’ rights in Malakal

26 November 2010 Twenty-five junior officers from Malakal Prison today concluded a four-day training course on prisoners' rights, which was organized by UNMIS and funded by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

"This training was held to educate the junior prison officers on the prisoners' rights according to the standard of international law," said UNMIS Corrections Advisor Cephas Mantey. "We expect them to treat the inmates according to the knowledge that they got (through) the training."
Some of the areas tackled in the training included inmates' rights and welfare, gender-based violence, HIV/Aids awareness, vulnerable groups in prisons, and the supervision and disciplining of prisoners.
The 12 female officers in the group, who were attending their first training session in prisoners' rights, were particularly engaged in the gender and HIV/AIDS discussion, noted UNMIS Corrections Adviser and Training Facilitator Granisia Musango.
The Corrections Adviser said this week's course provided the officers with a good opportunity to learn and hopefully apply the knowledge they gained at Malakal Prison, which currently houses 190 inmates.
Sergeant Peter Ayat, who has been working at the prison since 2007, said the training would improve his job performance.
"I now know the rights of prisoners," said Mr. Ayat. "I will treat them properly to make sure they are given enough food, clean clothes and living hygienic."