b) Press Statement issued at the end of the mission PRESS STATEMENT On the invitation by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa, Commissioner Dr. Vera M Chirwa undertook a mission to Ethiopia from 15 – 29 March 2004 to, among other things; inspect prisons and other places of detention in the country. The Special Rapporteur was accompanied by her assistant, Mr. Robert W Eno, from the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Special Rapporteur visited and inspected nine prisons, two prison farms and two police stations in five regions of the country. These include – • • • • • • • • • • • • • Addis Ababa Prison Kaliti Prison Ziway Prison Awasa Prison Arba Minch Prison Adama Prison Dippo Prison Dire Dawa Prison Harar Prison Ziway Prison Farm Arba Minch Prison Farm Awasa Woreda Police Station Adama Woreda I Police Station Prior to the inspections, the Special Rapporteur met and discussed with government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Information as well as with members of the civil society, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, the Forum of Street Children of Ethiopia and the Prison Fellowship Ethiopia. During the inspections, the Special Rapporteur met with heads of the different institutions visited and had discussions on among other things, the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, the major constraints faced in the execution of their duties, staff training, etc. The Special Rapporteur, together with officials of their respective institutions inspected the detention facilities – prison and police cells, kitchens, toilets, clinics, drug store, vocational training centres, etc. Where the Special Rapporteur identifies issues that fell below internationally recognised standards, on-the-spot recommendations especially on issues that she deemed were within the powers of the official to put right, were made. 50 Report of the Mission of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons to Ethiopia 15 – 29 March 2004