ACHPR/37/OS/11/437 25 • If possible, the rebuilding of prisons from local resources should be explored; • Human rights education for police, gendarme and prison warders should be intensified; • Rules and practices should be harmonised so that all prisoners have the same rights and duties in respect of visits, exercise and permission to go out, etc.; • NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations should play a more important role in setting up training programmes, preparing prisoners for release, etc.; • More activities should be offered to the prisoners, particularly the young prisoners including education, sports and recreation; • Protection of minors should be strengthened both within prisons and in police stations and the gendarmerie; • Measures such as parole, judicial control, reductions of sentences, community service, diversion, mediation and permission to go out should all be developed; • Magistrates should be made aware of non-custodial measures and trained, and their number should be increased, as well as that of lawyers, in order to combat prison overcrowding; • Communication between the police, prisons and immigration services should be reinforced in order to allow foreigners awaiting transfer to a refugee camp or deportation to be dealt with without excessive delay; • The quality and quantity of food should be improved both in prisons, police stations and/or the gendarmerie; • Programmes for the occupation and rehabilitation of prisoners should be strengthened, particularly for juveniles and prisoners serving long term sentences; • There should be a focal point to develop follow-up programmes after prison terms/sentence the main elements of which should be taken into consideration within the framework of prison reform and with a view to do away with recidivism caused by lack of preparation for release and lack of social, training, educational and psychological support programmes; • There should be a mechanism to compensate prisoners in cases of long and abusive remand in custody; • Information and awareness raising sessions about HIV/AIDS for prisoners should be initiated and intensified. Voluntary testing for HIV/AIDS should also be encouraged. Structures for psychological care and counselling, particularly before and after testing for those who are found to be HIV/AIDS positive should be strengthened. • The state should assume the responsibility for the healthcare of prisoners, even as family members, churches and others contribute towards this end;