The Special Rapporteur addressed detainees in all the detention facilities visited and held private discussions with some detainees whose cases had been brought to her attention after the Press Conference held on 16 March 2004 to inform the general public about the mission. These cases include the following: - Mr. Solomon Gabre Kidan, an inmate in the Addis Ababa Prison suffering from Tuberculosis; The detainees from Gambela who were alleged by some NGOs to have disappeared; and Members of the Derg (former) regime accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. Detainees informed the Special Rapporteur on their general conditions of detention, their relationship with the prison authorities and made suggestions on how their conditions of detention could be improved. After visiting detention facilities in the country, the Special Rapporteur observed the following: a Positive - There is generally a good relationship between the authorities and the inmates. There was very few cases of abuse by the officials; - Most of the problems raised or identified were not within the powers of the officials in the respective detention facilities to correct but rather within the powers of the political (government) authorities both at regional and federal level; - There was sufficient separation of male inmates from female inmates and female guards were guarding the female sections; - There was a demonstrable political will to improve conditions of detention expressed at both federal and regional levels of government; - The establishment of prison farms and vocational training centres in most prisons provided the possibilities for reformation and rehabilitation; - The establishment of prisoners’ committees managed by prisoners themselves provided prisoners with an opportunity to manage their affairs and be involved in their own welfare; - There was a good working relationship with the donor community. 51 Report of the Mission of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons to Ethiopia 15 – 29 March 2004