Liberian Assistant Justice Minister for Correction and Rehabilitation, Eddie Tarawali is recommending that a similar budgetary support that is given the Police and Judiciary be given to prisons in the country.
Prisons and other detention centers in Liberia are overcrowded and lack some of the minimum facilities/services needed, in line with basic international human rights standards.
He said the process of the criminal justice system is incomplete, as long as budgetary given the rehabilitation and correction is far less than police and the judiciary.
Assistant Minister Tarawali made the recommendation when the Prison Fellowship Liberia put on a display products made by female inmates from Monrovia, Kakata and Gbarnga Prisons in Monrovia on Tuesday, with funding from the United Nations Women.
“Our agenda rest at the feet at the Attorney General that the support must be given as equilibrium in order the justice to be holistic,” the head of the Correction Bureau said.
“Our focus is not to allow these people who have been transformed into another form of life,” Assistant Minister Trawali said.
Meanwhile, the United Nation Women has assured the Ministry of Justice of continuous support in rehabilitating inmates with skills that will prepare them when they are released from prison.
UN Women Country Representative, Marie Nizugama said the empowerment of women especially those who have come in conflict with the law, is significant to the maintenance of peace.
Delivering the keynote speech marking the display of products made by female inmates from Monrovia, Kakata and Gbarnga Prisons in Monrovia Tuesday, Madam Nizugama challenged the Liberian government to sustain the program. In remarks, Prison Fellowship Liberia Executive Director, Reverend Francis Kollie said the project is aimed at providing legal aids and training skills for female inmates in nine counties.
Rev. Kollie noted that the project is aimed at closing the gap between men and women in terms of livelihood skills.
During the program, cloths and soap made by the female inmates were put on display for viewing by guest and international partners The program was graced by female laureates from all over the world, representatives of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, among others.
The project, sponsored by the UN Women, is implemented by the Prison Fellowship Liberia has sought the release of many female inmates through the legal aids, rehabilitating them and preparing them for return to normal live.