Prison reform in Mozambique

Responsibility for all prisons in Mozambique was taken over by the Ministry of Justice in 2006.

The Ministry recently organised the first ever training seminar for the Directors and senior staff of the 15 central prisons in the country. At the Ministry’s invitation, this seminar in Maputo was led by Professor Andrew Coyle, whose visit was sponsored by the UK High Commission. The first part of the seminar focussed on prison management and human rights, using the Portuguese version of the Handbook published by ICPS. The second part, which was also attended by major national non governmental organisations, focussed on the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment in places in detention. While in Mozambique Andrew Coyle also visited prisons, addressed prison staff who were undergoing a new eight months’ initial training course and gave several media interviews.