By Kruah Thompson
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equity and the Empowerment of Women has donated several items to support women who have come in conflict with the law and are imprisoned at the Bureau of Corrections under the Ministry of Justice.
Materials donated include cartoons of washing and bathing soap, cartoons of tide soap, and sanitary pads for use by female inmates.
These materials, according to UN Women, were produced by the rural woman structure of the institution, which cuts across all 15 counties with more than 1000 members.
The UN Women has been providing funding through Prison Fellowship Liberia to ensure that the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR) offers skills training programs to female inmates in various disciplines to transform them to live productive life after serving their prison terms.
Madam Yami Falajajo, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Liberia, said they have also provided training to correction officers to enhance their capacity in access to justice for women as well as women’s rights despite being in prison.
“UN Women recognizes the dignity of women irrespective of their condition or situation. In this regard, I have come in response to an appeal made by the Director of prison for assistance to our sisters in prison around the country.” Madam Falajajo said.
She assured UN Women’s continuous support to the bureau of correction in addressing the needs of female detainees.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
Meanwhile, the program specialist on women, peace and security at UN Women, Madam Gorman Kaloweah, said they have decided to continue working with the bureau of corrections in reviewing their gender policy and empowering female inmates.
“If it is possible to get women from the various prisons; we will be able to train them so that they too can be trainers of their various prisons across the country.” Madam Kaloweah added.
She revealed that they are in readiness to train 200 inmates across the fifteen counties.
In remarks, Assistant Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice, Eddie S. Tarawali, lauded the United Nations Women in Liberia for its support towards the provision of skill training for female inmates in the country.
He also appreciated the UN Women for the donation and requested another training to be conducted to teach inmates how to make soap and other detergents. Editing by Jonathan Browne
