A tripartite meeting aimed at setting a five-year strategic plan for Darfur’s prisons concluded today in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The focus of the two-day meeting, between the Government of Sudan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union – United Nation in Darfur (UNAMID), was to develop a roadmap for prison development and reform in Darfur’s five states. The participants also discussed what had been achieved thus far and commemorated the three year partnership between the parties.

The support provided by UNAMID and UNDP for the Sudanese Prison Directorate, includes improving living conditions, providing prison officers with capacity building training, especially in human rights issues, and providing vocational skills to inmates, so that they may acquire livelihood skills that will later assist them in the reintegration process.

“UNAMID is committed to continuing to work with the Sudanese Prisons Directorate and other stakeholders in collective efforts for the achievement of the goals and aspirations of the Directorate in accordance with international standards,” said Mr. Hassan Gibril, the head of UNAMID’s Sector North Office, who spoke on behalf of UNAMID Acting Head Aïchatou Mindaoudou.

The Mission’s commitment to Darfur’s prison system was strengthened in February 2010 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding to support the Government of Sudan’s Directorate of Prisons and Reform.