Bonus Day!

Wednesday the 19th of March is…Bonus Day! GlobalGiving will give us a 15% more on your donations of at least 25 USD! Please help us with our Supporting Gender Equality in Rural Cameroon Project http://goto.gg/16581 !!!

An appraisal of my first contact with former detainees of Buea Central Prison

 

Within the past week, the Prisoners' Rights Project team at Human IS Right had the opportunity to interview a number of the students arrested in May 2013 during the riots at the University of Buea (http://goo.gl/kIVKD9). Charged with assault, theft and looting, the students spent between three to ten months at the Buea Central Prison, giving them ample opportunity to reflect on the most troubling aspects of the Cameroonian prison system. These former detainees, educated and cognisant of their human rights, were able to share their experiences and perspectives on daily life and obstacles within prison walls with the Human IS Right team.

During our interviews, we asked the University students to provide suggestions for improvements to conditions within the Buea Central Prison. They responded overwhelmingly as follows:

1. Food provided in the prison is insufficient in quantity and quality. This is in violation of Article 11 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Political Rights that ensures the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including access to adequate food.

2. The toilet, bathing, and shower facilities are inadequate in number and do not meet up with minimum hygiene standards. As a result, the former detainees declared that their health deteriorated during their time in prison and noted that many prisoners suffered from serious illnesses.

3. Proper medical attention and care is not provided to those in need. Often prisoners are forced to pay a bribe to prison officials in order to be taken to hospital when they are sick. In addition, prisoners or their family members bear the cost of medical care and treatment: many are unable to pay and thus do not receive necessary care. This lack of adequate medical care represents a breach of Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

4. Along the same lines, they alleged that many prisoners are at constant risk of physical and psychological abuse, verbal threats, and corporal punishment from prison staff and fellow prisoners. These allegations require a serious assessment of the procedures used by the prison staff, in order to establish whether or not they are in violation of the right to physical and moral integrity. These rights are enshrined in Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, in Article 7 of International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and in Article 2 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

The information that the Human IS Right team gathered from interviews with the former University of Buea detainees offers just a glimpse into life at Buea Central Prison. The opportunity to continue with interviews of former and current prisoners is essential to the success of our Prisoners' Rights Project. In addition, continued access to prisoners will help ensure the future of our sensitization work with stakeholders in the justice system regarding the rights of pre-trial detainees, a group that represents a majority (approximately 70%) of the Buea Central Prison population.

Written by Michela Gaffuri Riva, Prisoners' Rights Intern

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A concern for the CAR

 

 

The recent events and the social movements across North Africa, the Middle East and ongoing social unrest in CAR (Central African Republic) have highlighted the emergence of a new generation of leaders that yearn for social and peaceful change. They long for meaningful work but don't know how to focus their energy and effectively impact their societies in the time of crisis. They shall see the creative chaos of this time as a great gift and opportunity to rethink, reconnect, reinvent and yearn for Democratic and peaceful change. If their authentic style of community organizing could be matched with the self-awareness, mindfulness and compassion practices of meditation, it could revolutionize how they affect social change.

Human IS Right is concerned about the ongoing social unrest in the CAR and is calling on present and future leaders of Africa to rethink strategic change in leadership and distribution of scarce resources for the benefit of their populations.

There is need to:
- Bring young leaders and change makers from various parts of Africa especially areas that are prone to conflict together.
- Provide a forum for networking and exchange of experiences by fostering mutual dialogue and share visions to manifest tangible peaceful changes in their communities.
- Provide these future leaders with the tools to inner peace, self-development, peaceful strategic change leadership and meditation that helps strengthen their mediation skills and prevent conflict.
- Help them acquire Leadership skills through mindfulness, self-discipline and compassion.

Celebrating Human Rights Day

 The 10th of December 2013 marks the 65th Human Rights Day! This year the theme is '20 Years Working for Your Rights'. The day is marked both by high-level political conferences, meetings and by numerous activities. Human IS Right joined the Regional Secretariat for the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms for the South West Region to discuss topical issues related to Human Rights abuses in the region. The two main issues discussed were the illegal allocation of lands by some chiefs in the Fako Division and abuse of power and office by some officials of forces of law and order.

 

A tribute to Mandela - reflections on Development

Local, national and international development is all about change, positive change on some really big issues; poverty, health, inclusive and accountable government, rights, the environment and so much more. 

Certainly a way to celebrate the life, greatness and achievements of Nelson Mandela is for governments and for all of us involved in Development to take some time out to reflect on the change principles and strategies that drive our work, be that local action, big funding decisions or any other work along that horizontal continuum.