afrol News, 27 March - The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is assisting the government of South Sudan to in its prison reform.

Bankrolled by Canada, the project is carried out in collaboration with
the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice
Policy and the UN Mission in Sudan.

Among others, the reforms aim to boost the prison system's information
management capacities, staffing, policy development and regulations. The
project will also enhance the capacity of South Sudan Prison Service to
effectively respond to the needs and circumstances of children, women
and people with special needs in prison.

The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Khartoum and
the former SPLM in 2005 guaranteed the autonomy of Southern Sudan. The
agreement ended the 21-year old conflict between the two sides.

Mark Shaw, UNODC Inter-Regional Adviser, told 'UN website' that the
region's prison service is bereft of information on prison population
and its own staff.

“As a first step, a survey of the current prison population will be
carried out to understand its characteristics and the needs of the
detainees,” Mr. Shaw said. He said a system will be developed to manage
information.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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