News/Reports

The 9th International CURE Conference was held this year in Nairobi, the capital of the East African country of Kenya. From May 1-5, 95 delegates from 28 countries and 12 African nations came together under the banner of Pan Africa CURE to further their agenda of human rights and prison reform efforts in the Unites States and the African continent as well as other countries throughout the world. International CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants) is a U.S.-based grassroots organization started in 1972 dedicated to legislative change on criminal justice issues. It has more than 30 chapters in the U.S. and abroad. In recent years, conferences have been held in Bangkok, Thailand; Costa Rica; and Kigali, Rwanda. These efforts for criminal justice reform are strictly guided in accordance with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Conference delegates visit Naivasha maximum security prison in Kenya. Seated in the center are CURE founder and president, Charlie Sullivan, with Mary Muthoni Muriuki, and to her right, the Naivasha Prison warden. (Photo by Kennedy Omondi Onyalo) The opening address of the Nairobi Conference was a welcome speech by the Commissioner General of Kenyan Prisons, John K. Warioba, who closed his inspiring message of the need for prison reform with a wish for “a good conference and for a revolutionary conference.” During the four-day conference, topics discussed in panel format featured a broad spectrum of issues including challenging prison conditions, human rights violations, the treatment of juveniles and women, and issues of educational programing and re-entry training. The topic of faith-based rehabilitation was not ignored, and its panel included a lively presentation by Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, and Christian presenters demonstrating that prison reform is a common global concern in all major religions. A most relevant highlight of the Pan African CURE conference was a visit to the Naivasha maximum security male prison two hours’ drive into the stunning Rift Valley region of Kenya. Here, less than three miles from beautiful Lake Naivasha, reside more than 2,000 men incarcerated behind 20-foot-high concrete walls. Security is tight and no photography or direct communication was allowed with the inmates lined up in secure distance as the visiting delegation toured various sections of the prison: food preparation, cell blocks, a printing shop, and a carpentry section where inmates learn to build upholstered mahogany furniture for sale to the outside world. To everyone’s delight, and especially the prison population, the visit included the top ministerial secretary for Correctional Services in Kenya, Mary Muthoni Muriuki, who addressed the incarcerated men in an affirming and inspiring speech. Conference delegates at the Pan Africa CURE Conference were photographed at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi taking a break from deliberations in the East African equatorial sun. (Photo by Kennedy Omondi Onyalo) While the conference concluded that prison reform is still an urgent need in many countries, what became clear was the urgent and important need of better treatment of women in prison. The proportion of females in prison compared to men is increasing globally, and in most countries that increase is not reflected in proper attention to the special needs of women in prison and their children. The Rev. Stanley Chimesya, a Presbyterian prison chaplain from Malawi, struck a chord when he said, “In my country, a prison sentence is often considered a death sentence.” He added that in a women’s prison he serves, it is considered a privilege to have one meal a day and a mat to sleep on. Horror stories in prison systems span the world, panelists said, from Brazil to Japan, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to China. In Pakistan, children are eligible for the death penalty and in Uganda, execution is back on the books for aggravated homosexuality. The small African country of Rwanda is facing a special issue caused by the aftereffects of the Rwanda genocide of 1994. Many thousands of long-term prisoners from that era are to be released over the next several years back into a society which is working hard to overcome the still lingering original causes of the massacre almost 30 years ago. Banchayehu Bekele, an Ethiopian social worker, described in striking terms the horrendous condition for incarcerated women in her country, explaining the need for soap, hygiene products, clothing and other items as well as the regular abuse to which female prisoners are exposed. Her visualization was so moving the moderator called for a minute of silence at one point to give the audience time to absorb the depth of these descriptions. Alice Sevila, a prison chaplain from Cuba, described how the general dire economic conditions in her country along with the increasing youth emigration are impacting the general climate in the prison system. “How to recover hope?” she lamented. Constructive recommendations and hope that emerged from the conference included a call for the opening of modern telecommunication means through email, messaging, and video to include the world of incarceration. Brett Collins of the Justice Action organization based in Australia is spearheading this very timely initiative. Another recommendation highlighted at the conference was to foster enhanced local community engagement with neighboring prisons, as scripturally suggested in Matthew 25:43: “… I was in prison, and you did not visit me.” This idea of engaging communities in their local prisons has been modelled in the U.S. based on its Adopt-A-Highway concept. “Adopt-A-Prison” has been successfully introduced, practiced and perfected in two New York State female prisons: Bedford Hills, a maximum-security facility, and its neighboring medium-security Taconic Correctional Facility. These two correctional facilities together hold close to 1,000 incarcerated women. The Adopt-A-Prison concept (AAP) has now been piloted in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan. The AAP program was well received at the conference and recognized as a timely gospel-inspired concept. Human Rights lawyer Sarmad Ali (left) donates soap, toothpaste and other goods to Superintendent Muhammed Farrukh Rasid for distribution to inmates at Attock District Jail in Pakistan. (Contributed photo) From an interfaith harmony perspective, it is encouraging

International CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) had its 9th Conference on Human Rights & Criminal Justice Reform in Nairobi, Kenya, May 1-5. There were 95 participants representing 28 countries. “We were overwhelmed with the response which included countries like Pakistan from the right and Cuba from the left” commented Peter Onyango Olwal, the Coordinator of Pan Africa CURE. “Also” Onyango Olwal further explained, “many of the countries represented were from Africa and a large African committee was formed to start CURE country chapters to bring about prison reform.” Finally, Onyango Olwal concluded that “the Kenya prison system could not have been more supportive of the conference. The two top officials spoke and arranged for conference participants to a tour of a prison. Both emphasized their goal that all people incarcerated must have “one bed and one mattress.” This most needed reform was echoed Indirectly in the recommendations made below by the Conference to the world-wide entities that lock people up. Universal human rights are inherent to every human being, and must be continually defended by thorough advocacy, especially for those in detention and post-release. The death penalty and life sentences should be abolished while voting and telecommunication rights should be implemented. Also, juveniles should be separated from adults and prison officials should collaborate as allies for more humane conditions. Each country should produce manuals which instruct staff on the needs of the incarcerated especially concerning women. Finally, restorative justice and diversion should become primary tools in a country’s criminal justice system. For more information visit Pan Africa CURE web site.

View and download pdf version here. Overview Pan Africa CURE hosted the 9th International CURE conference in Nairobi, with 95 participants representing 28 countries. Committed to criminal justice and prison reform based on prisoner and human rights, many were from Africa, and participants included prior detainees from 3 continents. Pan Africa CURE is committed to supporting, preparing and accepting prisoners as returning citizens, as reflected in its slogan: ‘We support rehabilitation of Prisoners and Advocate for Reforms in the Criminal Justice System because today’s prisoners are tomorrow’s neighbours.’ The lively exchange of information and networking between participants and Kenya’s leading stakeholders was significant. In its 50th anniversary, this was a fitting landmark for International CURE and its founders. Charlie Sullivan was formally revered for CURE’s continuing and expanding global legacy for prison reform. ‘We were overwhelmed with the response, which included countries like Pakistan from the right and Cuba from the left’, commented Peter Onyango Olwal, the Coordinator of Pan Africa CURE. Its theme was to align the criminal justice system with the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on rehabilitation. While continents varied in their immediate conditions and concerns, the participants shared core issues of socioeconomic disadvantage and human rights neglect and abuses. It is vital to reduce people unnecessarily being drawn into the vortex of entering the justice system and incarceration, ask ex/prisoners what would be beneficial to reduce recidivism and use evidence-based research to direct funding, especially community-based support. Critical factors to reducing recidivism were to provide preferred alternatives to avert the large proportion of detainees accused of minor or non-violent offences entering the justice system (particularly the use of Restorative Justice); for prisoners with meaningful opportunities in preparation for their release; to bring into prisons psychological support and other services that address issues to facilitate community safety by addressing unresolved problems that led to incarceration; and to reorient away from the very costly neoliberal industrial complex expansion and instead to reinvest in community-based supports during and after incarceration. Conference Agenda Peter Olwal successfully engaged two top prison officials and facilitated most participants to tour Kenya’s Naivasha Maximum Security Prison for about two hours. This prison held 2200 detainees, of which there were 1100 lifers and 9 in high security. Responsible for the administration of justice, rehabilitation, and safe and humane custody, Kenya’s recently promoted Commissioner General Prisons Services, Brigadier John Kebaso Warioba, was a Keynote speaker at the conference, broadly supporting reforms based on human rights and humane practices for those who had made ‘mistakes’. He recognised the issues pervading the Kenyan justice system that need to be addressed including police discretion, court delays, resource efficiency, and legal fees. Overcrowding in prisons was also noted as an impediment to rehabilitation for those who are denied their liberty. He noted concern for the elderly and disabled, and incarcerated women. To ensure reintegration, he expressed his intention to provide capacity-building for trainers and provide the tools and capital and community to receive released prisoners. ‘There is no peace without justice and reiterated his mandate to reduce recidivism.’ Visiting the Naivasha prison, the participants viewed sections of the food preparation and vocational buildings. The newly appointed Principal Secretary of Prisons, Mary Muthoni Muriuki, imbued hope for change for the shockingly overcrowded and spartan conditions despite the apparent dearth of any substantial activities and opportunities for detainees. Despite having scarce belongings or available resources, prisoners appeared healthy and pleased to interact. With idiosyncratic Kenyan humour, guards presented guests with a self-effacing pantomime. Close to President Ruto, the Principal Secretary presented as a strong woman and influential leader, recognised as a highly successful and well-connected CEO. Prefacing with a short dance, her motivational address was of hope and of creating opportunities for the many thousands of lifers assembled for the event.  Urging to turn away from punishment and toward corrections, she told the conference participants about her intentions for vocational skill and business development in prisons and how the government can split profits with working prisoners. Her aims are to ‘change stigma to transformation’, ‘completely break recidivism’ and facilitate self-reliance for inmates upon release. Echoing President Ruto’s political style, she declared that all detainees must have ‘one bed, one mattress, one blanket.’ In addition to the visit, the Pan Africa CURE agenda involved ten conference panels: Conditions of Incarceration; Human Rights of the Incarcerated; Empowerment of the Incarcerated; Programs that work in Prisons; Sentencing of Adults and Juveniles; Prison Officials and Reformers: Foes or Allies; Faith-based Rehabilitation; Prison Reform and Restorative Justice; Women in Criminal Justice: Challenges and Creative Industries; Organised Advocacy. Key Presentations and Speakers Two ex-prisoners from the USA spoke of their experiences in the justice system and how they used these experiences to progress personally and politically. Damien Linnane commented that basic conditions in prison, such as food and mattresses, were adequate compared to those in developing nations, though he noted many other issues existed. He focussed on the lack of equivalent healthcare in prison, in comparison to that available to those in the general community in Australia, and also commented on the continuing and unnecessary practices of strip searching and prolonged solitary confinement, which violates the Nelson Mandela Rules, and that Australia was one of the few Western nations to imprison 10-year-olds. Damien called out Australia as the most racist worldwide in terms of disproportionately incarcerating First Nations people. He spoke about police disproportionately targeting Indigenous people and also issues like police being less likely to give warnings to Indigenous Australians for minor drug use. Damien noted that despite the Australian prison system violating multiple human rights treaties, there was little way to enforce these violations as the United Nations Team against Torture had ‘no teeth’. Charles Thornton from the Office of Returned Citizens (ex-prisoners) based in Washington DC, is involved in the inspection of the 102 federal prisons, and had just returned from the high-security Florence Prison. He brought a message from the Mayor of the District of Columbia to the conference. Tyrone Wade was released only