Prison Health Protection Programme ZADHR News 5 Training on health and human rights in prisons The Prison Health Protection Programme aims to raise awareness of the health and human rights among prisoners and prison staff and to work towards increased realisation of access to health care and social determinants of health within the prison system. a session to examine this legislation and to analyse the efficacy of the Prisons Act as a tool for the protection and fulfilment of the right to health. A pilot of the Prison Health Protection Programme commenced at Harare Remand and Harare Central Prisons 24 August 2009 and will run through to the end of November 2009. During the first 5 weeks of the programme, training sessions on the right to health were conducted for prisoners. This included an introduction to human rights in general and the right to health in particular. Inmates were also provided with a forum for discussion about the challenges they face in realising the right to health in prison. Inmates participated enthusiastically in the trainings and expressed an interest in further training on the subject. Participants reviewed the provisions in the Act related to health care and the determinants of health and whether these complied with basic principles of the right to health. Participants felt that although the policy framework could be improved upon, the lack of implementation of the law already in place was the main reason the right to health was not being realised in prisons. A lack of resources and high vacancy rate were cited as major limitations in meeting minimum standards. For example, erratic supply of stationery makes it difficult to consistently keep medical records for inmates in the prisons. The reasons cited above also resulted in exit medical examination not being conducted at times although this is a requirement under the Prisons Act. ZADHR Programme Assistant, Calvin Fambirai, speaking to inmates at Harare Central Prison about the right to health On the 13 and 14 October 2009, ZADHR conducted a training for staff of the Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) from the 2 prisons under the title “The Right to Health— Opportunities for Zimbabwe’s Prisons”. Two groups of officers were trained each day including middle management, rehabilitation and medical staff from Harare Central and Harare Remand Prisons and senior health and administrative officials from Mashonaland Region. The International Federation of Health and Human Rights (IFHHRO) “Stepping into Human Rights” introductory board game was used as a training tool for participants to grasp basic human rights principles and facts about the right to health. This interactive tool was an effective means of demystifying human rights and received positive reviews from participants. The Prisons Act [Chapter 7:11] is the chief law governing operations in Zimbabwe’s correctional institutions. Ms Tecla Ponde of the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO) facilitated Participants were then taken through international instruments relating to penal reform by Tawanda Zhuwarara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners of 1955 (SMR) gives guidelines for minimum standards for hygiene, adequate food and nutrition, clothing which preserves dignity and medical care. Further detailed provisions for protection and fulfilment of the human rights of prisoners can be found various other international and regional instruments including the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (1988) and the Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners (1990). However, the SMR set down basic fundamental human rights principles which countries should comply with in their national legislation and practice. While it may not be possible to implement all the minimum standards set out in the SMR immediately, prison systems should at all times be working to improve policy and practice to achieve these standards. UNAIDS has identified prisoners as one of the four "major at-risk and neglected populations" in the HIV/ AIDS pandemic (2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic). The gaps in policy and practice in terms of HIV/ AIDS management in Zimbabwe’s prisons were reviewed and identified as an area requiring urgent attention. While ZPS is providing anti-retroviral therapy for infected staff and inmates, the problems of inadequate nutrition and inadequate psycho-social support following voluntary counselling and testing need to be addressed. Participants suggested that ZADHR set up a policy dialogue on HIV/AIDS, human rights and prisoners involving officials from the Zimbabwe Prison Service, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, health professionals and other interested stakeholders. If you are interested in participating in a policy dialogue around HIV/AIDS, Prisoners and Human Rights please contact ZADHR on (04) 703430 or 0913254295 or info@zadhr.org