Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-04-04 08:57:14
The Rural Human Rights Activists Programme (RHRAP) in Nimba, Liberia, is playing a crucial role in training Police and Correction Officers to enhance the nation’s criminal justice system. This initiative aims to address the challenges faced in the implementation of Liberia’s Criminal Justice System (CJS), which is vital for protecting fundamental human rights and promoting democracy in the country.
Led by RHRAP Executive Director Lorma Baysah, the training program has already benefitted about 60 officers in Nimba and Grand Cape Mount counties. The program, in collaboration with Serving Humanity, Education and Development (SHED), focuses on equipping officers with the knowledge and skills needed to promote a human rights perspective in policing and corrections.
For the past seven years, RHRAP and SHED have been working towards supporting the Police, prisons, and communities in upholding human rights and the rule of law. With funding from the European Union (EU), these organizations have been instrumental in providing training, legal representation, and education to inmates and community leaders.
The current phase of the project aims to educate inmates about their rights, provide them with opportunities to communicate with their lawyers and family members, and equip them with skills that will support their livelihoods upon release. Additionally, plans are in place to establish sustainable income-generating activities within the prisons, in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules on Prisons.
Looking ahead, RHRAP and SHED are gearing up for the second phase of the project, “Strengthening Democracy and Respect for Fundamental Human Rights of Prisoners in Liberia,” which will run from 2024 to 2026 and is also funded by the EU. This phase will further enhance the efforts to reduce recidivism, empower inmates, and promote a culture of respect for human rights within the prison system.
The program has already seen success in other counties like Bong, Margibi, and Nimba, and is set to continue making a positive impact on the criminal justice system in Liberia. Through these training initiatives and support programs, RHRAP and SHED are paving the way for a more just and rights-based approach to law enforcement and corrections in the country.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
