Prison officers learn about human rights- by Catherine Sasman

WINDHOEK – The Office of the Ombudsman has launched a training manual on human rights for Correctional Services officials, who were formerly called prison officials.

The office held human rights workshops for 877 correctional officers at 13 prisons.

Ombudsman John Walters said correctional offi-cers should appreciate the responsibility that comes with authority.

“They should always remember that prisoners are completely under their power and dependent on them for the most basic things: light, heat, fresh air, food, water, contact with lawyers, family and the outside world. These basic human needs are their fundamental human rights.

“The perception is that prisoners have harmed society through the crimes they have committed, therefore they have forfeited their rights and do not deserve the same protection as others who have not been convicted of wrongdoing.

“The opposite is true – prisoners are entitled to all their constitutional rights, except those taken away by confinement,” said Ombudsman John Walters.

The French Ambassador to Namibia, Jean-Louis Zoël, said while prison and the deprivation of movement are punishments for wrongdoing, prison ought not to be a place for further punishment.

The French Embassy sponsored the publication of the manual.

The training manual is a user-friendly resource that aims to build on human rights standards, principles and approaches to professional practice.

Commissioner of the Namibian Correctional Service, John Nyoka, acknowledged that human rights are at times compromised “with the situation on the ground”, but said the institution is promoting new non-custodial measures – community service orders – as alternative sentences.

He said this project has been rolled out to three regions, with the intention to cover all seven northern regions.


(2010-07-20/newera)