Prison Service officers in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have commended the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for successfully completing a three-day workshop that ended last Friday in Aweil town.
The training aimed at widening the knowledge of prison officers on human rights, rule of law, administration, protection of inmates and other responsibilities. The training also addressed the problem of contraband within the prison as well as complaints from inmates can be handled.
Thirty-five officers, including 9 female officers were among the trainees who were drawn from the five counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, 2nd Lt. John Garang Deng, said they had received valuable information that would help them in effectively implementing administrative activities at their duty stations.
“We have received most information on the prisons administration, admission of the prisoners, searching and visiting to prisoners, how to separate female, male, juvenile, adult detainees, how to handle complaints and death of a prisoner and report it to the authority concerned. We will use the knowledge to guide us in our workplaces,” Garang explained.
A female officer, 1st Lt. Nura Otora, has said they have gained a lot of information on what to do with the banning of some harmful materials and how to address the challenges facing detention units across the state.
“I have benefited a lot on how to monitor and deal with prisoners, usage of prohibited materials, and problems facing the prisons and we came up with solutions to address them. We got additional information from this workshop plus revision of the old known information and we wish such a workshop comes once more,” 1st Lt Nura Otora said in a statement.
The Aweil UNMISS’ Team Leader for Rule of Law, Charles Ooko, said the training was meant to build the capacity of the prison officers to be able to discharge their duties professionally in line with international best-accepted practices and norms.
“This training was aimed to improve the capacity of the prison service officers in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to be able to discharge their duties professionally and in line with international best-accepted practices and norms,” said Ooko.
He concluded: “The officers are expected to uphold the human rights for prisoners and it is also beneficial for the officers because they are undergoing a lot of stressful work environments in their family, financial issues, mental illness and they are supported through psychosocial support programs.”