AHURTOD Organise a Training Seminar for Prison Staff on“ Human Rights and Prison”
On Tuesday 24th April 2007 about 50 prison wardens and senior staff from the Central Prison, Buea South West Province of Cameroon, attended a seminar on “Human Rights and Prison”, which was organized by the Association of Human Rights and Torture Defenders (AHURTOD). This seminar was held at the Fako Ship Plaza in Buea. The Provincial Delegate for Penitentiary Administration was represented at the seminar by (DPAP) ELOUNDOU Jean Pierre. Also present was the Chief of Discipline and Education (CSDASCE), NANA Mathieu, along with other senior wardens and administrators. Cross section of the Prison administrators The representative of the Provincial Delegate of Prison making his opening speech. ELOUNDOU Jean Pierre (representing the Provincial Delegate) opened the seminar with the hope that it would provide prison staff with an insight into Human Rights law, which is becoming increasingly important in Cameroon. He further highlighted the introduction of the new Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) as an example of this new approach, with emphasis on the Rights of detainees. AHURTOD General Commissioner NKEM Bellamin FONKENG thanked DPAP ELOUNDOU Jean Pierre for his address and welcomed the participants, expressing his wish that they would leave with a fuller understanding of the Conventions on Human Rights, and that they would be able to apply these standards in their work. Mr FONKENG further highlighted that AHURTOD has plans to establish a library in the prison, and to provide desks and computers for the vocational empowerment of inmates, particularly juvenile inmates. Mr. Eugene MAGUIRE, an AHURTOD volunteer from Northern Ireland, then provided an introductory talk on “Human Rights in the Prison Context”. He also outlined the fundamental Human Rights, such as the Right to Life and the Right to Liberty, and he explained how these standards have become increasingly important in national and international law. Mr. MAGUIRE discussed how societies place restrictions on the Right to Liberty through the sanction of imprisonment, but he stressed that this criminal sanction does not take away an individual’s status as a human being, with the right to be treated humanely and with dignity. Mr MAGUIRE noted the difference between convicted prisoners and detainees on remand, and he emphasised the need for remand prisoners to know the charges held against them and to have access to legal advice, to contest those charges. The next speaker was Barrister-at-law Mr EHABE EBOA Samuel, a former Divisional Coordinator of the Human Rights Defence Group. He explained to delegates the protection afforded to detainees under the new Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). The CPC states that persons are presumed innocent until they are convicted of an offence, and it upholds detainees’ rights to legal advice and to medical examination. Mr EHABE noted that the Code prohibits torture, as well as any oppressive treatment that may affect the detainee’s physical or mental wellbeing. Mr. EHABE also presented a paper on the treatment of convicted prisoners under the Criminal Procedure Code. The CPC emphasises the need for prisoners to be rehabilitated back into society, and that rehabilitation must form part of the prison programme. This theme was continued in the next presentation, by Mr NCHANJI GIA NDI of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF). He outlined the relevant United Nations guidelines on prisons, and in particular the Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners. Mr. NDI explained that these guidelines ensures that detainees have enough air, light, food and water to enable them to live without suffering physical or mental harm. He as well outlined the ban on “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment”, and he explained that this prohibits the use of corporal punishment or other humiliating treatment of prisoners. Mr. NDI noted that the guidelines also stress the need for a safe and secure environment in prison, with adequate protection for the health of prison staff and prisoners. The guidelines spells out that order and discipline must be maintained but not in a way that, places unnecessary restrictions on people in the prison. The final presentation was by Eugene MAGUIRE. Mr MAGUIRE explained how the Human Rights standards highlighted by the previous speakers can be put into practice in working life. He noted that Human Rights standards do not ban prison officers from using force in their job, but that their use of force must be necessary, justified and proportionate. Throughout this seminar, prison staff and other audience members contributed enthusiastically to the discussion, and they showed a willingness to learn more about how they could apply Human Rights principles in their own working practices. At the end of the seminar, DPAP ELOUNDOU Jean Pierre from the Provincial Delegate’s office thanked the organisers for an informative and valuable seminar, and he expressed the desire that this would be part of an ongoing training process, and that Human Rights would play an increasingly important role in prison life. The General Commissioner of AHURTOD, NKEM BELLAMIN FONKENG, then presented delegates with their certificates of participation in this seminar. STV News then conducted interviews with the seminar organisers and with the representative of the Provincial Delegate for Penitentiary Administration. This seminar subsequently featured on the STV News programme of Saturday 28th April 2007, as well as receiving coverage in The Post newspaper. Association of Human Rights and Torture Defenders (AHURTOD)
PO Box 157, Buea, South West Province, Cameroon Tel. (+237) 963 1118 www.ahurtod.org email: ahurtod@ahurtod.org