Prisoners’ Justice Day: International community seeks collective action to address stigma

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Vincentian International Network for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (VIN-JPIC) has stressed the need for collective action to address stigma, promote rehabilitation, and ensure successful reintegration of ex-offenders.

Mr Jim Claffey, the International Coordinator, VIN-JPIC, NGO UN-Desk, New York, made the call during an international conference in commemoration of the Prisoners’ Justice Day on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by VIN-JPIC in collaboration with Earthspring international with the theme: “Restorative Justice and Community Reintegration.

Claffey said that the focus of the conference was on partnerships and prisoners welfare, adding that comprehensive reforms to address inhumane conditions in correctional centres was needed.

He emphasised the significance of justice in maintaining societal dignity adding that justice was intrinsic to humanity, and its absence would reduce society to a jungle where the weak and the voiceless were oppressed.

He recounted the tragic death of Eddie Nalon in 1974 at Canada’s Millhaven Maximum Security Prison, which inspired the annual observance adding Aug. 10 marked his death anniversary.

He added that it had been the tradition of the VIN-JPIC to mark International Justice Day to bring the rights of prisoners to local excursus.

This, he said was in order to identify areas of partnership towards reducing incidents of dehumanisation of those who have made time in the prison and those who were struggling to find their feet in a society they left years ago.

“Justice is intrinsically native to man without which the society will no coalesce and human dignity and civility will be reduced to a jungle of brute force and power, where the weak and the voiceless become a pawn in the chess board of the powerful.

“In consequence, victimisation and oppression, corruption and impunity become inevitable in such Hobbesian and state of nature.

“International Prisoners’ Justice Day August 10, marks the anniversary of the 1974 death of Eddie Nalon, a prisoner who bled to death in a solitary confinement unit at Millhaven Maximum Security Prison, Canada, when the emergency call button in his cell failed to work.

“An inquest later found that the call button in that unit had been deactivated by the guards. The following year prisoners at Millhaven marked the anniversary of Eddie’s death by fasting and refusing to work.

“By May, 1976, the call buttons had not yet been repaired. Bobby Landers was the next to die in one of those cells. With no way to call for help, all he could do was scribble a note that described the symptoms of a heart attack.

“What started as a one-time event behind the walls of Millhaven Prison has become an international day of solidarity with silent and innocent in our correctional centres some of whom are awaiting justice.

“We also recognise the labours and sacrifices of officers and men who journey with them through the process of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration and possible reconciliation with there creator God, “he said.

Claffey urged the forum to rob minds on issues affecting not those in the walls but those outside the walls who have suffered stigmatisation and push aways from the society.

He, however, envisioned policy initiatives that would drive meaningful reforms, fostering inclusivity and supporting the successful reintegration of returning citizens into the communities.

In his goodwill message, Sen. Shehu Sani commended NCoS for its efforts in delivering their mandate, despite the unique challenges they faced in the country.

Sani, who was represented by Mr Daniel Amos, shared valuable insights from his experiences as a former inmate at Kirikiri Custodial Centre, Lagos.

He said that the experiences have been instrumental in shaping his perspectives, while encouraging everyone to learn from them.

“NCoS is doing their best in carrying out there mandate.

“Their dedication to rehabilitation is evident in facilities like the Kuje custodial center, which offers degree programs and PhDs, empowering inmates to pursue their educational goals.

“I extend congratulations to the NCoS for their outstanding work. Your commitment to correction and rehabilitation is truly commendable,”he said.

Other stakeholders present at the event spoke on the essence of correctional service and restorative justice and called on Ministry of interior to ensure maximum prisoners welfare.

They also advocated for death sentences to those who kill and harvest organs of innocent souls as they should pass through the same degree of punishment inflicted on the victims.

Panel discussions were held on Restorative Justice and reformation of inmates, presentation of awards to deserving dignitaries and group photographs among others.

NAN reports that the the World Prison Brief (WPB), said NIGERIA, with 74,059 inmates, is currently the 27th country with the highest number of prisoners globally.

The WPB is an institution collating data on prisons worldwide.

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