n) The government should organise a national conference involving all the stake holders in the criminal justice system – the police, the prosecutors, the prison officials and the judiciary. NGOs and other members of civil society working in this sector should also be involved in the conference; o) The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia should submit its initial report in conformity with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; p) The Government should also report on the extent to which it has implemented the above recommendations. q) Prisoners should be provided with uniforms. (ii) Recommendations to civil society a) Members of civil society, especially NGOs should constantly visit prisons and other places of detention to ensure that the government is meeting its domestic as well as international human rights obligations towards persons deprived of their liberty; b) Civil society and NGOs in particular should monitor government’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, including monitoring implementation of these recommendations; c) NGOs should encourage short courses and workshops for prison officials and bring to their attention best practices in prison management from other penal systems in Africa and around the world; d) NGOs should also support the efforts of government by assisting in promoting the welfare of prisoners – provision of blankets, soaps, and other basic facilities. (iii) Recommendations to prison authorities a) Prison officials should be more involved in monitoring the welfare of prisoners and not leave matters to the committees. Rehabilitation and effective reintegration should be the cardinal role of any prison. The role of a prison official must be to ensure that prisoners released have been rehabilitated enough to be integrated into society. The official’s role is not limited to ensuring the prisoner does not escape; b) Complaints of abuse should be investigated and dealt with so as not to encourage impunity; 47 Report of the Mission of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons to Ethiopia 15 – 29 March 2004

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