Correctional services indispensible in criminal justice system

Correctional services are an indispensible support mechanism within the criminal justice system. Rwanda, together with some other countries that contribute correctional officers, are working to promote functioning, civilised, efficient, accountable, professional correctional/prison services, with capable officers with specialised skill sets and operating on the basis of international standards.It is said that “No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but how it treats it’s lowest.”Nelson Mandela’s words ring true today as United Nations, through its peace operations world-wide, works to strengthen the institutions of rule of law (police, judiciary, prosecution, and corrections) and human rights in post conflict nations. Rwanda’s leadership has responded to the United Nations’ call and currently has her troops in a number of countries, including Haiti, South Sudan, Sudan (Darfur), Liberia, and Ivory Coast to name but a few. Rwanda, Sweden and Canada who are the TROIKA for the Group of Friends of Corrections, together with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and supported by the Rwanda Permanent Mission to the United Nations, represented by Ms Judith Nsababera, recently concluded an expert level workshop in Kigali to address the gender dimension as it relates to the deployment of female correctional officers.Given Rwanda’s record in women empowerment, there was no better place to host the first ever Corrections Expert Level workshop – in partnership with Sweden and Canada. This activity was the first ever initiative to be implemented on the Calendar plan for the Group of Friends of Corrections.Group of Friends of Corrections is a member state initiative that was created in 2009 to promote efficiency within the fourth pillar (Corrections) of the justice system. Rwanda took over the role of the secretariat from Sweden and was elected because of her overall major contribution of officers in all areas of the peacekeeping missions, including other criteria that had been set by the UN.The United Nations currently deploys 252 men and 64 women as seconded corrections officers in the peacekeeping and special political missions. As you can tell by the current numbers, ensuring women’s participation in peacekeeping and peace-building still remains a major challenge. Women’s participation in peace missions provides a starting point for ensuring that their perspectives will be reflected in the overall implementation of UN mandates that lay the foundation for post-conflict peace-building.Participants at the Kigali Expert Level Workshop made an important recommendation which was for the Group of Friends of Corrections to initiate an all-female pre-deployment training to be hosted in Kigali in 2014. The training would equip the Corrections female officers to serve in the mission field and acquire the necessary knowledge about international rule of law instruments as well as key United Nations Security Council resolutions on women, peace, and security.The programme also provided an opportunity for the experts to look at Rwanda’s best practices in the areas of Corrections (production, correctional regimes, welfare and healthcare of inmates) and how Rwanda has excelled in addressing the issue of Gender based Violence where delegates received an explanation at the Isange One-Stop Centre, situated at Kacyiru Police Hospital. Delegates were also told about the joint efforts by the Rwanda Armed Forces in the fight against violence against women and girls, in support of the UN Secretary General’s Campaign against ‘violence against women and girls’. Rwanda, as the current host of the Secretariat of the UN Group of Friends of Corrections, through the Rwanda Corrections Service and the Permanent Mission in New York, is committed to continuing the advocacy to other Member States to support the area of corrections within the Peacekeeping Missions. With the TROIKA and other stakeholders, Rwanda will continue to support and increase her representation of corrections officers to the UN Department of Peacekeeping like she is currently doing in the field of defence and police. Given Rwanda’s record in women empowerment, there was no better venue for this expert level workshop and we, at the RCS, are ready for the first ever Corrections Pre-deployment training.The writer is Deputy Commissioner General, Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS)