Advocaid, with support from Amplify Change, has organized a one-day training for 32 female correctional officers in Sierra Leone on November 26, 2024, to improve care for incarcerated women. Held at the Special Court Building in Freetown, the training focused on enhancing officers’ understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and humane treatment, aligned with the Bangkok Rules.
The training is part of the “Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights for Commercial Sex Workers and Incarcerated Women in Sierra Leone through Rights Awareness and Law Reform” project. It aims to equip correctional officers with the skills to better support female inmates, particularly regarding reproductive health and mental well-being.
Madam Jalahan Amara Jakema, Advocaid’s Program Manager, emphasized the need for female officers to understand the unique challenges incarcerated women face. She stressed that empowering officers with this knowledge will help create a more humane correctional system.
Madam Tenneh Christiana Tamba delivered a session on SRHR, covering topics like sexually transmitted infections and personal hygiene, highlighting the importance of maintaining health and dignity for incarcerated women.
Legal expert Mohamed Yassin Conteh Esq. presented on the Bangkok Rules, emphasizing non-discrimination, gender-specific prison management, and the humane treatment of female inmates. He also discussed the need for non-custodial measures for mothers and juveniles.
Assistant Superintendent Josephine Keita and participant Madam Fatmata Bangura reflected on the sessions, noting the importance of gender-sensitive policies, such as providing separate facilities for mothers and children.
Madam Jakema concluded by reiterating that the training marks the beginning of a broader initiative to uphold international standards across Sierra Leone’s correctional facilities, aiming to ensure that the rights and dignity of female inmates are respected.
