UNICEF Working to improve conditions for juvenile prisoners in Cameroon
Living life behind bars. Pascal is just one of 85 juvenile inmates doing time in Douala’s Newbell prison. Here they live
on top of each other. They sleep, eat and wash in an area meant for only 30 prisoners. An open sewer runs through
their cellblock, the roof leaks, and all the mattresses are lice ridden. In Yaounde’s Central prison some boys are
forced to sleep on the floor. 17 year old Bernard has been here for over three years, it took 2 of those years for his case to get to court, and now
with 9 months to go until the end of his sentence, he feels he’s lost out on life.
Apart from the inhumane conditions, minors are also vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse by older inmates. HIV
and Aids are rampant.
But UNICEF in partnership with Cameroon’s ministry of Social Affairs is working to improve conditions for minors in
the country’s prisons. Televisions, educational materials, books, beds and blankets have been provided while
UNICEF trains judicial, police and prison officers on the correct treatment of children in conflict with the law.
But the ultimate aim is to get Cameroon’s children out of prison and in to rehabilitation centers. Preparation is under
way for one such center in Douala.
Embed code for Blogs
Simply copy and paste the following HTML code below into your blog, website, or MySpace profile.
Copy to Clipboard
Share this video:
Simply click the button below and select your social bookmarking site.
Tag Cloud
Category: Human Services
Living life behind bars. Pascal is just one of 85 juvenile inmates doing time in Douala’s Newbell prison. Here they live
on top of each other. They sleep, eat and wash in an area meant for only 30 prisoners. An open sewer runs...
Views: 47532
Volvo Cars' 80th Anniversary, Part 2
UNICEF reports progress on fighting HIV-AIDS
UNICEF: With help from the Government of Japan, Southern Sudan rebuilds its schools
NBA star returns to his native Haiti to see UNICEF's work
Red Cross PSA: Kit de Emergencia
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Choices - Kids
UNICEF: Schools in Gaza re-open after winter break; students face dark, cold classrooms
UNICEF: Helping children stay in school in the occupied Palestinian territory
Boogie
Freedom From Smoking® Online Program II
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Juan y Maria (Spanish)
Bluetooth Technology in Health Care
World Bank: Global HIV\AIDS Conference
IBM Project Big Green
Mountain Lion Warning PSA Spanish
Red Cross: Help America II - Support
UNICEF One Minute Juniors
Jaan Albrecht, C.E.O. Star Alliance
Rotary International - Shadow Dancer