Sunday July 21, 2024
Participants during an event to celebrate the Nelson Mandela International Day held in Mogadishu. / UN Photo/Mukhtar Nuur
Mogadishu (HOL) — On Nelson Mandela International Day, the Somali government and the United Nations stressed the urgent need for prison reform, spotlighting severe conditions in the nation's facilities.
A UN assessment report, titled "Prison Conditions in Somalia – A Holistic Assessment," was launched during the event, revealing critical issues such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, clean water, and electricity. It also highlighted that many detainees, including women and children, have not been convicted of serious crimes. The report calls for legal and policy reforms, renovation of facilities, establishment of well-equipped medical centers, and implementation of educational and vocational programs for inmates.
"Prisons are often the forgotten part of the justice system. Yet, their conditions and the rights of those within them are critically important. We start from a simple proposition: prisons should be a place of last resort," said Nasrin Khan, Chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia's (UNSOM) Joint Justice and Corrections Section.
General Bashir Abdi Mohamed, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Correctional Services, emphasized the importance of rehabilitation over punishment. "The purpose of prison should be to rehabilitate inmates, not just punish them. We asked the Ministry of Education to support prisoners' rehabilitation by providing vocational training and formal education," he said.
Faisal Aden Hassan, Permanent Secretary of Somalia's Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, acknowledged the lack of professional training and resources for prison staff. "The system is operated in a military style, leading to complications and inefficiencies. We are working on a new civilian-led corrections model to address these issues," he stated.
The event, attended by Somali government officials, parliamentarians, and international partners, underscored the collaborative efforts needed to tackle these challenges. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other UN agencies are working with the Somali government under the Joint Justice and Corrections Programme to implement the Nelson Mandela Rules, which mandate humane treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners.
The Nelson Mandela Rules, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, require respect for all prisoners' inherent dignity. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison during South Africa's Apartheid era, advocated for better prison conditions, setting a global precedent for humane treatment.
As Somalia grapples with prison reform, the joint efforts of the Somali government and international partners on Nelson Mandela Day highlight a commitment to transforming the country's prisons into centers of rehabilitation, reflecting Mandela's legacy of justice and human rights.