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: 94798
UNICEF: Donation from Japan helps send mosquito nets to Ghana
U.S. Department of State: Condeleeza Rice on North Korea
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2
Rotary International - Tree PSA
USDA Forest Service: Matchsticks
UNICEF: Global Kids
Live8: Africa Sings
'Powers of Smaller'
Beijing Olympics One-Year-to-Go celebrations
UNICEF: Moscow signs on to become a child-friendly city
Water safety tips from American Red Cross health and safety expert, Connie Harvey
UNICEF: Jakarta Flood Aid
The ONE Campaign: Matt Damon Interview
Jason Bell, IFAW South Africa country director
Traveling with asthma
UNICEF - Queen Rania
AARP: Holiday Phishing Scams
Bina Lashkari, Director of the Doorstep program, Mumbai
V6 dCi Concept engine