GOVERNMENT to recruit more female prison warders – Simbyakula

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Zambia Prisons Service Women`s Eagle Club pose for a photo during the women`s day celebratio
Zambia Prisons Service Women`s Eagle Club pose for a photo during the women`s day celebratio

GOVERNMENT says it will recruit more female prison warders to ensure that female inmates and their children are well looked after. Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula in an interview yesterday said more female warders would be recruited in the prison service.

He said the purpose was to ensure that all female prisoners are guarded and taken to court by female officers at all times.

Dr Simbyakula was responding to calls by Age Justice International on the improvement of human rights for female prisoners.

Last week, the civil society organisation called on Government to re-strategise its commitment and plane on human rights for female prisoners and their children in order to meet international standards.

The organisation also observed that female prisoners were arrested and guarded by male officers even when they wanted to go to the lavatory.

Age Justice executive director Philimon Phiri called on Government to include all biological needs of women, rights of females and their circumstantial children in the Prisons Act.

In response, Dr Simbyakula said Government was reviewing the entire Prisons Act to ensure that it meets the current requirements and international standards.

Dr Simbyakula said the law on the care for circumstantial children was in existence but not implemented because of lack of resources.

“The laws is already there, section 56 of the Prisons Act states that all circumstantial children should be taken care of by Government,” he said.

Times of Zambia

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