Executive Director Florian Irminger from Penal Reform International (PRI), an implementing partner for the MINUSCA Justice and Corrections Section, met with the SRSG Mankeur Ndiaye, on 31 October 2019, to update him on the demilitarization strategy for the Central African prison service. The PRI has supported the Government of the Central African Republic in the development of the strategy and a 5-year action plan for its implementation.
In this context, a steering committee, technical committee and secretariat have been formed. The opening ceremony for the launch of the steering committee will be held on 6 November 2019 and presided over by the Minister of Justice. This committee will be composed of ministers, representatives of MINUSCA, representatives of Member States and selected national and international stakeholders, while the technical committee includes working level representatives of the steering committee members.
The demilitarization of the Central African prison service includes the recruitment of civilian prison officers, gradual transfer of prison management and security tasks to a civilian workforce, establishment of an adequately functioning prison headquarters, improvement of prisoners’ living conditions, improved access to healthcare, social reintegration programs, infrastructure upgrades and capacity building programmes for senior leadership and prison personnel.”