25 African Nations Unite to Reimagine Prison Infrastructure with Rehabilitation at Core
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"It is quite admirable and commendable that, despite the many significant and persistent challenges, they all came together to discuss prison reform initiatives and efforts towards improvement in prison management, operations, planning and design to achieve the rehabilitative ideal," notes ICPA Board Member Marayca López, who attended the workshop.
The five-day workshop, hosted in Windhoek, Namibia, brought together correctional leaders from 25 African nations, focusing on the theme "Rehabilitation Philosophy: A Driving Force Behind Prison Design." This workshop demonstrated a unified commitment to transforming correctional facilities from purely punitive institutions into rehabilitation-centred environments.
López, who participated in a panel discussion on correctional philosophy and prison design, shared her expertise alongside distinguished leaders from various African correctional services. "Happy to reunite with ICPA Board Member and colleague Commissioner-General Raphael Tuhafeni Hamunyela and Geert de Vries (ICRC) and blessed for the opportunity to make new acquaintances to build collaboration and partnerships to improve the prison system for a more humane and effective approach to corrections," she reflected.
The workshop included comprehensive site visits to Windhoek's male and female correctional facilities, showcasing practical implementations of modern correctional philosophy. "With a strong focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, residents at both facilities have access to education, skills development, vocational training and employment... aimed to equip individuals to re-enter society as productive citizens," López observed.
ICPA extends its gratitude to the ICRC for this invaluable opportunity to contribute to the dialogue on prison reform in Africa. The workshop's success marks a significant step forward in advancing humane and effective correctional practices across the continent.
