Friday the 25th of November 2011 Norway signed an agreement with CELA to improve prison conditions and access to justice for women, youth and vulnerable male.
The agreement with CELA is the second agreement between the two parties. The background for the first phase of support from Norway is the visit of the Norwegian Minister of Justice, Mr. Knut Storberget, in April 2009. While he was in Malawi he visited Maula prison and became deeply concerned about the conditions within the prison.
The first project agreement first of all facilitated legal services, which led to the release of 210 females, 116 juveniles and 115 men. Secondly, camp courts were set up where 89 out of 207 women, 51 out of 97 juveniles and 51 out of 140 men were released. Thirdly, a female prison block was established at Maula prison. This has a capacity of 150 women. Previously, women in Maula prison had to sleep in small iron tinned cells.
The second project agreement has three desired outcomes: 1) speedy trials and access to justice for girl child offenders, women and vulnerable males facilitated, 2) improved living conditions for inmates with young offenders (boys and girls) attending quality schools, and 3) systematic documentation, coordination and reporting of incidents of prisoners’ rights violations in prison and police cells.
In the second phase of the project a new important component has been added and it relates to education. The Embassy and CELA are proud to include the “I live here project” focusing on full time school in Kachere juvenile prison. This project has been running since 2009 by the I live Here Foundation. The I Live Here Foundation is an American NGO dedicated to sharing stories of silenced and unheard people in various countries, including Malawi. The school uses government approved curriculum and therefore the prisoners are able to join their respective classes when they are released. The UN Secretariat in New York is impressed by the project results and is planning to use the project methodology in prisons located in post conflict countries. A reformatory centre for girls will be constructed in collaboration with Prison Authorities as girls have until now been incarcerated with adult women which is against the law. Once constructed, I Live Here will facilitate the education for girls too until Ministry of Education takes over both prison schools.
It has been agreed that Norway supports the second phase of the program with a total amount of 8 650 000 NOK for the three year period.
The Ambassador’s statement from the signing ceremony can be found here.