By Prince J Musa in Kenema
As a way of supporting the correctional system of capacitating inmates with skills, Humanist Watch, a rights based group, has donated tailoring equipment and accessories to the Kenema Correctional center. Both the male and female wings of the center benefitted from the largess worth Le60million. The donation, said officials, was made possible with funds from the United Nations Development program (UNDP), under its Justice Sector Support project.
The donated items include sowing machines, clothes irons, measuring tapes, and clothing materials.
Christopher Morie Brima, National Coordinator of Humanist Watch Salone, said the gesture is part of a larger effort to complement the development of the justice sector. The rights group, said Mr Brima, has been working towards the realization of the new bail and sentencing policy in the eastern province.
“Since the name correctional center [implies] to rehabilitate the lives of inmates, Humanist Watch, with funds from our partner UNDP, wants to add value and help to transform inmates so that during their stay in dentition they will be able to learn some skills which will enable them to start their lives at the end of their terms,” he said.
Brima said the organization intends to extend the gesture to the correctional centers in Kailahun, Knono and Moyamba, where it is leading a sensitization effort on the new bail and sentencing policy of the judiciary.
Brima appealed to the management of the center to take good care of the donated items and to put them into appropriate use.
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) praised the gesture of Humanist Watch. Ibrahim Lahai, HRCSL’s Admin and Finance Officer in Kenema, said it is the mandate of the Commission to monitor and see to it that correctional centers protect the health and welfare of inmates.
“We are proud as Commission for the support provided by Humanist Watch Salone” said Lahai.
Representing the judiciary at the handing over ceremony was Peter Kamara, Master and Registrar of the High Court East. He noted that the Humanist Watch Salone had done a lot for the justice sector in the region and said their latest gesture deserved commendations.
“We are delighted to again embrace the humanitarian gesture being provided by Humanist Watch to facilitate the empowerment of the inmates,” he said.
“A correctional center is a learning place for first time offenders of law, and people have been at this correctional center and acquired skills with which they have become successful in society and other people now depend on their skills to survives,” Kamara said, urging the organization to also focus its attention to the local courts which also require such supports.
Superintendent Moses B. Conteh, Deputy head of the Male Correctional Center, also praised the gesture of Humanist Watch for complementing government’s efforts in transforming the lives of inmates.
© 2019 Politico Online
