Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has stated building the capacity of correctional officers is vital for the efforts to implement inmate rehabilitation in prisons effectively.
Speaking on the training programme launched for officers of Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Home Minister Imran said the programme is an important step in the efforts to reform prisons. The minister said correctional officers play a vital role in rehabilitating inmates and making sure they can be reintegrated into the society as useful individuals. He said the training programme will help improve the treatment of inmates in prisons and build the technical capacity of correctional officers.
The training progamme aims to train officers of MCS on the Nelson Mandela Rules, to strengthen prison reform and counter terrorism. The programme focuses on human rights of prisoners, due process and vulnerable groups. The programme is conducted under the assistance of the European Union (EU).
The Nelson Mandela Rules is named in honour of the first black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years for his anti-apartheid activities by the then apartheid regime. The rules outline a comprehensive list of minimum-standards relevant to the just and humane treatment of prisoners.