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Ethiopian Federal Prison Commission launches new national prison training

Adama (Ethiopia), 4 March 2021 –The Ethiopian Federal Prison Commission launched a national prison training curriculum at the annual consultation forum of Federal and Regional Prison Commissions organized by the Federal Prison Commission.  The curriculum, developed with UNODC support, targets all prison wardens and prison officials in Ethiopia and is in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela rules), thereby institutionalizing human rights best practices and setting an example for other countries in the region. 

POETH Margaret Prison

Speaking at the opening attended by 120 prison officials representing all regional prisons commissions within Ethiopia, the Commissioner General, Mr. Jemal Abasso highlighted that “the ongoing criminal justice reform in the country encompasses strong elements of prison reform with more focus directed to strategic and long-lasting interventions. The curriculum is one such intervention and it is an institutional training tool that can ensure consistency in the delivery of trainings to prison officers”.

During the launch, Ms. Margaret Akullo, UNODC Representative a.i. in Ethiopia acknowledged that the fruitful collaboration between key criminal justice institutions and civil society in Ethiopia had made the development of the curriculum possible.  She said “we are pleased to bear witness to the official launch of the prisons training curriculum which will be rolled out nationally. Its system-wide application at a national level is sustainable and will enhance knowledge, skill and attitudes of prison officials and contribute to the humane treatment of prisoners”.

The development of the curriculum benefitted from UNODC technical expertise and will form part of the curriculum of the Prison Training Institute (soon to be the Prison Officials Training College).  The curriculum focuses on human rights, security and rehabilitations and is informed by lessons learned from the targeted trainings conducted for Ethiopian prison officials on Nelson Mandela rules and the Bangkok Rules in December 2020.

At the event, UNODC invited participants to register on the UNODC Global e-Learning online training platform and take two certified foundational courses, The Nelson Mandela Rules and Alternatives to Imprisonment for Women Offenders.  33 prison trainers and officials have already received their corresponding certifications for the two learning modules from previous training events.

The annual forum was also an occasion to reflect on the progress made in 2020, assess the impact of nationwide prison reforms and discuss ways forward to address existing and emerging challenges ahead, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives from the Ministry of Health and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) shared best-practices in the protection of prisoners in detention facilities and who remains one of the most vulnerable groups during the pandemic. 

In the last year, out of a prisoner population of over 110,000, close to 40,000 prisoners have been released to decongest prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The annual forum was an occasion to raise awareness on ways to protect women, children and young offenders, including the importance of mental health services in prisons” shared Ermiyas Kostre, UNODC Programme Advisor and Trainer.  He added that the curriculum also includes treatment of specific groups of prisoners including foreign nationals and said that between 2018-2019, 80 individuals from 17 countries were arrested for trafficking cocaine, heroin, and cannabis.

This initiative forms part of the UNODC Regional Programme, Supporting Transformation, Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa (2020-2021), generously funded by the Government of Japan. In Ethiopia, the programme targets key criminal justice partners and prison institutions, as well as police and prosecution officials and is geared towards strengthening operational and technical capacities of institutions.

 

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For inquiries, please contact: 

Ms. Rose Poreaux - rose.poreaux@un.org

UNODC Communications and Advocacy Consultant